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Fr Rory Writes

The Eighth Station: Jesus speaks to the women of Jerusalem.  “We adore thee O Christ and we praise thee, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World”.

Jesus you came down from heaven to carry out the will of the Father which was, “that none should be lost”.  You have shared in our human experience and you know of our afflictions.  Our journey through life is described in the Psalm 22 “Though I walk through the valley of darkness no evil would I fear.  For you are there with your crook and your staff, with these you give us comfort”. During these times we have dramatically experienced through the coronavirus the domain of darkness.  Because of modern communication we are particularly aware of death as it is experienced by those who have died from the virus and so it rightly established fear.

This fear should generate within us the beginning of wisdom. So our adherence to good directions given to us is truly important. The fruits of wisdom presents us with the challenge of living through your grace, love and care for us in keeping with the dignity, gifts and challenges of life.  With our children returning to school and the necessities of life that help us to embrace life in its fulness, we rely upon your presence with us.  As we make the way of the Cross the mystery of suffering remains with us, but we ask you to give us the strength to carry our crosses, to surrender our lives to you, and to live our lives as fully as possible.

One our Father, one Hail Mary, one Glory be to the Father.

The Nineth Station:  Jesus falls for the Third Time.  “We adore thee O Christ and we praise thee, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World”.

Does it ever let up?  So often in life when it rains it pours.  For one, the media are an embodiment of this.  Up until the pandemic I was an enthusiast for Newsnight etc, though waning.  After the first few weeks in isolation, it had gone off my agenda as indeed much of the media, a great thanks be to God for “Spring Watch”.

The journey of Jesus to Calvary with its moments on the way; Simon of Cyrene, His Mother Mary, Veronica, the Women of Jerusalem, ultimately the Roman Soldiers, His falls along the way to the Cross and the Nails ……. a litany beyond measure.  As I look back on my journey of life with its many falls, I still try to speak of silver linings.  Does it ever let up?, I truly hope so.  I mentioned in the beginning, almost as a child recalling my dad doing the Stations of the Cross and the hours upon hours of pain that he suffered in his life.  So I hope it imbues us with the spirit “those are the trials through which we triumph, by the power of His spirit living within us”, and at this time part of my prayer goes out to the Queen and the Royal Family.

One our Father, one Hail Mary, one Glory be to the Father.

How Live Simply helps Catholic communities to protect our Common Home while living more fully:

Tuesday, 9 March 11am-12pm

We have reached 85 livesimply awarded communities and there are a similar number of livesimply communities actively working on the Award in spite of the pandemic.
With Maria Elena Arana, livesimply Award Coordinator at CAFOD, Fr Rob Esdaile, parish priest at livesimply parish Our Lady of Lourdes Thames Ditton and Ellen Teague, livesimply Award assessor, learn more about how your parish or school could join us.Register to join us

Fr Rory Writes

The Fifth Station:  Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus.  “We adore thee O Christ and we praise thee, because by your Holy Cross”.

So often I say two things:  The consolation that this station brings to Jesus, the help that is given to Him is also a great consolation for us.  On the way of the cross at the Second Station where I pondered that I knew “I should do better”, giving way to the forgiveness that Jesus brings.  Now the realisation “we can all do better”.  After the lockdown when we will return to “the life of the church”, then we will genuinely seek to do better.  This involves us believing and sharing together in a life of faith with the fruits of this in our experiencing what was the outcome for the early Christian community – “see how they love one another”.

One our Father, one Hail Mary, one Glory be to the Father

The Sixth Station:  Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.

Last week Deacon John presented us with the dramatic story presented on the internet by Dr Peggy Hartshom, about a women who glimpsed the mystery of her unborn child.  Circumstances had brought about this dramatic encounter.  She was amazed to see the perfectly formed boy, the tiny legs and arms moving in her womb.  All of a sudden, Dr Hartshom’s assistant said, “reach out and take your baby’s hand”.  The women raised her hand and touched the monitor.  As if by some divine cue, the baby stretched out his arm to the exact place on his mom’s hand.  On the screen his tiny fingers met hers.  The women underwent a transformation and kept her baby.  Surely we recognise that there is a mystery inside each one of us – the mystery of the image of God.  We see this in a very special way when His sacred face was revealed to her “Veronica wipes the face of Jesus”.

One our Father, one Hail Mary, one Glory be to the Father

The Seventh Station:  Jesus falls a Second Time.  “We adore thee O Christ and we praise thee, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World”.

Back down to earth with a bang.  The seventh station often has this reference to our lives.  Following moments of grace is a reality in life that very often we are again confronted with the ordinary, the normal, the difficulties of life.  On the horizon now is the most special season of Holy Week.  Please God, this is coinsiding with our thoughts of returning to church.  This has been helped by the roll out of vaccines, and while very much to be welcomed alongside the return of our children to school, this highlights the circumstances that we are living under and that there may be a spike in the number of people catching it.  So again; Firstly, it is good to be back, and welcome.  So as parish priest that is to all our parishioners.  Secondly, the great necessity to adhere to the guidelines for the safeguarding of our services.  So it will be essential for all to apply through the Parish Office to book a place at Masses during Holy Week.   We may have to have a draw for places, because stewarding is an essential requirement and I am responsible for this.  Just as Jesus, because he is human, again falls under the weight of the cross.  So the weight of the cross has been heavy in our journey. 

One our Father, one Hail Mary, one Glory be to the Father

Deacon John Writes

Sometime in Lent I invite us all to pray for forgiveness for those sins which we know we have committed during the difficult times we have been through with the coronavirus pandemic. During Lent, we are given another chance to repent and return to our Heavenly Father’s love. Below is one suggestion for carrying this out on one’s own, or as a family, based on an idea I found on the internet. (I leave it to individuals to adjust the words “We, us, our, I etc., as appropriate)

This reading from 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 serves as an introduction: So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. And all this is from God, Who has reconciled us to Himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake, He made Him to be sin Who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. The word of the Lord. R: Thanks be to God (Prayer) Lord Jesus, we ask Your pardon and forgiveness for not bearing witness to you by our lives, spreading through our words, deeds, and attitudes Your love, mercy, kindness, spirit of forgiveness and service to those around us.  We pray to the Lord.  “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.”  

Now call to mind the goodness of God our Father, and acknowledge our sins, so that we may receive His merciful forgiveness. “I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.”

(Prayer) My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against You Whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with Your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Saviour Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In His name, my God, have mercy. Amen. 

(Concluding prayer) O Lord our God, look upon our weakness with compassion and forgiveness that we might be made whole again. Cleanse us of our sins, and free us from the prison of guilt, that we may live in the promised joy of Your salvation. May God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Spirit Who gives life to all, grant us grace and mercy, now and forever, Amen.

Deacon John Writes

In the gospel for the second Sunday of Lent we hear the Transfiguration story where Jesus is revealed in His Heavenly glory. We encounter transformation every time we receive a sacrament. Baptism transforms us into children of God and heirs of heaven.

Confirmation transforms us to be brave witnesses of and warriors for Christ. Reconciliation transforms sinners to saints.   In every Mass, the bread and wine we offer on the altar are transformed into the crucified and risen, living body and blood of Jesus. Every Mass should be our source of Heavenly strength against temptations, and renew us during Lent. Our Communion with the living Jesus should be the source of our daily “transfiguration,” transforming our minds and hearts so that we may do more good, through service to others.  The transfiguration gives us a message of encouragement and hope in times of doubt and during our dark moments of despair and hopelessness, pain and suffering. The thought of our future transformation in Heaven will surely help us to reach out to God and to listen to His words: “This is my beloved son.” During this Lent let us offer our Lenten sacrifices to the Lord so that through the acceptance of our daily crosses, we may grow closer to him in his suffering, may share in the carrying of his cross and finally may share the glory of his second “transfiguration,” namely, his Resurrection. 

I found the following material on the internet about a Dr. Peggy Hartshorn who tells a dramatic story about a woman who glimpsed the mystery of her unborn child. The young woman was seeking an abortion. She simply could not handle having a baby at this time. But she agreed to an ultrasound. When the baby appeared on the screen, the woman was amazed to see the perfectly formed body, the tiny legs and arms moving inside her womb. But the woman kept saying, “No, no, I have to have an abortion.” Dr. Hartshorn knew that seventy-five percent of women who see an ultrasound decide to keep their baby – but that a quarter, nevertheless, still have the abortion. It seemed like this woman would be in that twenty-five percent. All of sudden, Dr. Hartshorn’s assistant said, “Reach out and take your baby’s hand.”  The woman raised her hand and touched the monitor. As if by some divine cue, the baby stretched out his arm to the exact place of his mom’s hand. On the screen his tiny fingers met hers. The woman underwent a transformation and kept her baby. Surely we recognise that there is a mystery inside each one of us – the mystery of the image of God.

CAFOD

The work of CAFOD is most important in the life of the church, so they deserve not only our gratitude but our financial support because they are serving us so well in doing something that should be most important in our lives.  Donate online at cafod.org.uk/give or by using one of our envelopes.  Thank you.

Fr Rory Writes

Continued:

The Second Station:  Jesus receives the Cross.  “We adore thee O Christ and we praise thee, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World”. The agony of Jesus in the garden is a very important focus for our attention.  Christ’s agony, the Stations of the Cross and the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary provide a constant opportunity for us to contemplate Christ’s presence in the world, and above all the salvation He brings.

Last week in ‘Deacon John Writes’ he had a very important, clear message.  In it he said “Lent began last Wednesday, and we were reminded that there is no better time than the present to turn to God for forgiveness and to forgive others”.  My moments in the garden are frequently focused upon my awareness that I should do better.   It becomes a constant refrain in my mind “you should do better”.  Then because Satan the devil is the accused of the brethren, and as St Peter highlighted, he sits on our shoulder and accosts us night and day.  In fact, never lets up.  Jesus has put a stop to this by becoming the instrument of God’s forgiveness.  This is the mission of His life – and for this He lays down His life.

One our Father, one Hail Mary, one Glory be to the Father.

The Third Station: Jesus falls the first time.  “We adore thee O Christ and we praise thee, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World”.

He became like us in all things but sin.  He knows our weaknesses.  The implication of His forgiveness is that it is final, complete.  It is His gift that He will never take back.  As he completely forgives He has forgiven me, it is essential that I too forgive myself.  Through God’s grace, if only I can take hold of this, it becomes a real gift.  If we take hold of this, the peace, then the strength and hope that it will bring to our life begins to bear fruit – fruit that will last.  The implication for the good of our world is that, as He forgives me, so I forgive others.

One our Father, one Hail Mary, one Glory be to the Father.

The Fourth Station: Jesus meets His mother.  “We adore thee O Christ and we praise thee, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the World”.

The family home is so important in the journey of life, and yet more and more it is becoming absent to our world.  This is why in our Catholic church the role of Mary has such an important place.  As we realise this, then we become aware of the life of orphans who for no fault of their own have this great affliction to contend with.  And so the promise “I will not leave you orphans as so many now are”.  This should become a major part of our prayers and Lenten preparation for the most important week – The one we call Holy Week, so that the life of Christ may truly find a home in us.

One our Father, one Hail Mary, one Glory be to the Father.

Easter Retreat

Easter Retreat:  Join the Wellspring Community, Monks of Worth Abbey, and young people from across the country in this interactive online retreat over the Easter Triduum.  With a mixture of prayer, small groups and talks there is a great opportunity to journey with others deeper into the mystery of Easter, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We have created the timetable in such a way that you should be able to attend the liturgies in your local church and if this is not possible we will offer guidance in how to create a prayerful liturgy at home. Should one of the sessions clash with your local liturgy you will have access later so you can catch up.                           

Plenty of space will be given to allow for deep reflection and personal journeying with God.” http://www.wellspringbrighton.org.uk/the-virtual-easter-retreat/

Here is the facebook link for the retreat:   https://www.facebook.com/events/3623733677740460/