Baby steps ....

At today's Mass for the Feast of Christ the King, a number of children in the parish received their First Holy Communion. Something completely unexpected and rather wonderful happened. Our parish priest, Father Thomas, used this opportunity to reintroduce kneelers for those who want to receive communion kneeling.

He cited the feast of Corpus Christi during which Pope Benedict first distributed communion to the faithful whilst they were kneeling and on the tongue and that Monsignor Marini had subsequently indicated that this was to become the norm at Papal masses, which has since proved to be correct. Father Thomas also asked people to reflect on the fact that particles of the Host can easily be transferred to the hand and that reception on the tongue was preferable in order to prevent this from happening. He also noted that the reception of communion in the hand was an exception, rather than the rule. From now on we will be able to kneel to receive communion. The choice, however, remains with the individual. Nevertheless, this is definitely a Father Z 'brick by brick' moment.

This may not seem to be particularly exciting news to most people, but I have never had the opportunity, before now, to receive communion kneeling. Thank you Holy Father and thank you Father Thomas.

Speaking of Corpus Christi again brought to mind our Corpus Christi procession earlier this year and I thought it might be a good idea to post a few pictures. Corpus Christi processions like this are, on the whole, rare in South Africa.

A beautiful carpet of flowers had been laid out for the Blessed Sacrament

This carpet extended all the way around the courtyard and ended at the entrance gate

The re-entry of the Blessed Sacrament through the church gates

Although we had only just entered winter it was a bitterly cold and rainy day. We processed to a park about a kilometre down the road where Father Manuel, another of the priests who serves at our parish, gave a Benediction. Another Benediction was given in the church on our return for those who could not participate in the procession. The amazing thing was that the rain held off for most of the procession and only started to really come down again when we returned.

Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St John Lateran

Today is the feast of the dedication of the Basilica of St John Lateran in Rome. This morning, our priest, Father Thomas, focused the first part of his homily on this feast and highlighted the fact that the Basilica is the cathedral of Rome and the official seat of the Bishop of Rome, the Holy Father. He also emphasized the importance of listening to and allowing ourselves to be guided by the Holy Father and the Magisterium.

The papal cathedra in St John Lateran
This basilica is the oldest of the basilicas in Rome, having been dedicated by Pope Sylvester I in 324. It is only when the age of the original basilica is brought to your attention that you begin to realise the true 'age' of our faith and to feel, within one's soul, a gentle but ancient stirring. The deep, but light touch, of all those souls, living and dead, who make up the Communion of Saints.

The Holy Father washes the feet of twelve priests during the Mass of the Lord's Supper in the Basilica

I finish off, once more, with the words of St Josemaria Escriva from his work, The Forge:

You must love, venerate, pray and mortify yourself for the Pope, and do so with greater affection each day. He is the foundation stone of the Church and, throughout the centuries, right to the end of time, he carries out among men that task of sanctifying and governing which Jesus entrusted to Peter.

Setting out into the deep in support of the Holy Father

Well, here I go. Casting off and setting out into the deep and very probably stormy seas, together with the Pro Papa League armada, in support of His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI. The intention of this blog is the unreserved spiritual support of the Holy Father. This support is given independent of His Holiness's actions and decisions. I see our Holy Father as a great light in the encroaching darkness and I will, by the grace of God, do everything that is within my power to support him.

It worries me greatly that many people seem to consider this sort of spiritual support only when there is a condition of some sort attached to it. I've seen too many suggestions, mainly from those who want the universal return of the TLM, that we pray for the Holy Father in order that he does X, Y and Z, usually in relation to the Motu Proprio. I find this behaviour rather ungrateful. A little like throwing a beautiful gift back in the face of the giver or a little like saying to the gift giver "Is this all you bought me?".

Yes, I do understand the frustration, anger and hurt I have seen from many people regarding the suppression of the TLM by their local dioceses and parishes and the fear of those who have only ever known the Novus Ordo. However, the impatience, divisions and vicious debate that one encounters (from both sides of the spectrum), both on the internet, and elsewhere, leads me to believe that there is something other than the Holy Spirit at work amongst the lay faithful and religious with regard to this matter. This is why I feel that we should all look to the Holy Father as our guide in this matter and stop trying to take matters into our own hands. This goes as much for those intransigents who do everything in their power to prevent the celebration of the TLM in their parishes as it does for those who wish to see the immediate abolition of the Novus Ordo Mass.

There is no doubt in my mind, whatsover, that our Holy Father is fully open to the gentle promptings of the Holy Spirit and that he will do whatever is necessary for the wellbeing of the Church.

To quote St Josemaria Escriva:

Your deepest love, your greatest esteem, your most heartfelt veneration, your most complete obedience and your warmest affection have also to be shown towards the Vicar of Christ on earth, towards the Pope.We Catholics should consider that after God and the most Blessed Virgin, our Mother, the Holy Father comes next in the hierarchy of love and authority.