Owl of the Remove

Long Break.....

2010-11-08T19:41:00.002-05:00

As you will no doubt have realized, this blog is on an extended sabbatical, it may return, but I have too many other duties. Joseph Pearce has asked me to write on the St. Austin Review blog, so we shall have to see.............Keep well, and keep the Faith!

Daniel in the Lion's Den

2010-09-17T14:52:00.002-04:00

The speech in Westminster Hall - truly "Caritas in Veritate!"

"This truly great Englishman"

2010-09-10T20:15:00.003-04:00

Words of the Holy Father, spoken at his General Audience, in preparation for the most important and difficult visit of his Papacy, about Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman who will be beatified next Sunday..........."this truly great Englishman....it is my hope that more and more people will benefit from his gentle wisdom and be inspired by his example of integrity and holiness of life." Pope Benedict XVI. The words the Pope applies to Newman could just as easily refer to Pope Benedict - except he would be a "truly great Bavarian!"

Not a good Pope

2010-06-10T23:30:00.004-04:00

We do not have a good Pope: we do not have an outstanding Pope, we have have a great Pope! I wonder if most of us, lay and clerical, realize the Pope that we have been given at this precise moment in history.

Tomorrow we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, of which the priesthood is the expression of his love, as St. John Vianney said. The Holy Father answered five questions from priests from different continents - his extemporaneous answers were, quite literally, extraordinary. Watching the Holy Father,through the blessing of EWTN, I realized that George Weigel's book 'God's Choice' was absolutely correct. As diabolic forces mass against the Church and her priests, what an incredible blessing to hear Peter address the priests of the world - the priests of Jesus Christ.

Beautiful - and Powerful!

2010-05-13T10:13:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, on the eve of the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, our beloved Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, consecrated all the priests of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This event, as the Year for Priests comes to an end next month, has profound significance, both theologically and spiritually. The Successor of St. Peter has entrusted the priests of the world, in a formal act of consecration, to the spiritual care of the Mother of God in the very place where She appeared. As the Pope has reminded us, we are only seven years away from the centenary of Her appearance. With all that has happened, and all that will happen, I think this moment is going to have profound significance, not only for all priests, but for the whole Church. Thank you, Holy Father!

As Arnie would say.....

2010-05-05T21:47:00.001-04:00

"I'll be back..."

Happy Octave!

2010-04-10T22:42:00.002-04:00

A happy, blessed and peaceful Easter Octave day to my faithful three or four readers! I must confess that the Triduum was not what I had hoped for - unfortunately, I allowed myself to be distracted by the venomous, serpentine and diabolic attacks on the Holy Father and the Church which reached a spittle-flecked crescendo on Easter Day. I was so distracted that, during the Vigil, I forgot to get the people to renew their Baptismal vows until we had started the intercessions - mea culpa - I am sure they think their priest is a moron! However, I had a lovely call from a parishioner this evening - a mother of five and a great inspiration to me - she told me to stop listening to the news - they loved their priest and they loved the Holy Father - thank God for parishioners like that!

Betrayed by a Kiss

2010-03-31T20:57:00.002-04:00

The "ad intra" encouragement of disloyalty to the Pope just got a huge boost from Fr. Richard McBrien, the well-known heterodox professor from Notre Dame. He really should be ashamed of the article he penned in Newsweek. The reality is that people who are warning about potential schism in the Church are actually behind on the story: the schism is real, and has been for some time - the difference is, they don't leave the Church anymore, they try and corrupt it from within. The danger to the precious faith of the ordinary faithful when those who speak, apparently in the name of the Church, is immense. Let us never forget that Jesus' warning about the "little ones" and the millstone was not about children but the little poor ones, those of a simple and humble faith. Another kiss in the Garden from Fr. McBrien. How appropriate on 'Spy Wednesday.'

Wisdom from Belloc

2010-03-31T20:45:00.003-04:00

"The love of Truth is the distinguishing mark between men."

"A man who loves Truth and has the Faith is up against it."

"The Catholic Church is a thing of which a man never despairs or is ashamed."

What modern anti-Catholicism is - it is...."anti-civilization, anti-it, anti-wine, anti-laughter of a free sort, anti-love, anti-celibacy, and anti-pure stuff!"

Why this is really happening.

2010-03-31T15:43:00.006-04:00

The Press: "the new black arts of mass suggestion and propaganda." Christopher Dawson

It has been said so many times, but still needs to be said: one case of the abuse of a minor by a priest is too many. It is not only a crime, but it is a mortal sin which, if unrepented, will result in eternal damnation. Independent and unbiased journalism - (seeking facts not spin) which used to exist, will confirm that the vast majority of the sexual abuse of children takes place within the family. Other institutions, especially Schools, also figure very highly in the statistics. I read one report that in one year in the New York Public School system (State schools in English), there were more reports of sexual abuse than in 50 years against the Catholic Church in the entire United States. What is happening now, in the wildly inaccurate, slanderous and downright false reporting of the current crisis, is more akin to a lynch mob than anything else. Even calling the crisis "current" is clearly not true; most of these cases are from decades ago and the Church, in Britain and the United States, is recognized, again by the independent and unbiased, as having the most stringent child protection measures in place of any organization. None of that matters; what matters is that the Catholic Church is the leading voice for traditional sexual morality in the world; the Church is the defender of life; the Church defends the God-given institution of marriage between a man and a woman. In the culture war which is rapidly intensifying in secular Europe and the United States, the Catholic Church is "the opposition" - the enemy - of a secularism which is not neutral, but hostile - and aggressively hostile. In military terms, the Pope is the "General" of this army - and if you want to take out an army, go for the leader and guide. John Allen, the uniquely fair religion "expert" on CNN, said in his new book, "Future Church" that is does not take much to move the "nones," those having no religious affiliation, to becoming the "antis." Anti-Catholicism is the anti-semitism of the secular elite who inhabit the newsrooms and editorial offices of much of the media. It is not only the "last acceptable prejudice," it is not even regarded as prejudice, it is sanity, clarity, breathing the pure air of freedom, liberated from the dark oppression of the Church. This will not change, it will only get worse. The attempt to portray the Church as the epicenter of child abuse in the world, despite the facts, is the attempt to exclude the voice of the Church from the Public Square. What is even more disturbing is that some of the support for this is "ad intra," coming from within. Perhaps we should not be surprised by this, betrayal has been part of the life of Christ's Body since that first kiss in the Garden. Every act of abuse is, of course, a betrayal of Christ - so is the sanctimonious kiss of the National Catholic Reporter and other "friends." The great fault of many in the hierarchy in recent years is not the "covering-up" of sex abuse - it has been naivete - imagining that the opponents of the Church are charming dinner party guests who wish to engage in "dialogue." They wish to "dialogue" us into obscurity, and this latest battle in the Great War to end all wars should concentrate the minds, and gird the loins of our platoon commanders. We are dealing now with what Roman Guardini called, "the smiling unbelief of the world's mighty and wellborn;" but they are snarling, not smiling. Bryan Appleyard, writing in The Independent in February 1996 wrote these words....."The truth is that Catholicism is not a problem for the contemporary liberal, is is the problem....to the modern imagination, Catholicism is the biggest enemy of all. As a result, 'I hate Catholics' is quite commonly heard in otherwise civilized circles."

Don't Let the Facts Spoil a Good Story!

2010-03-31T15:32:00.003-04:00

As if we didn't know, the "facts" reported by The New York Times about Pope Benedict have been demolished, by no less than the Judge who investigated the case. That has not stopped the NY Times from continuing to attack the Church: clearly admitting sloppy reporting and bias is impossible for the failing flagship of the liberal elite. Archbishop Dolan of New York and Bishop DiMarzio of Brooklyn deserved great praise for their outspoken comments about the NY Times

Novena for the Holy Father

2010-03-25T23:49:00.002-04:00

There is an orchestrated, organized campaign against the Holy Father, of this, there is no doubt. "le Grappin," as St. John Vianney described him, is behind this. The best, and only remedy is prayer. I suggest a novena to St. John Vianney, the Patron Saint of Parish Priests, beginning at First Vespers of Palm Sunday - how appropriate as we begin Holy Week. Please join in this Novena for Pope Benedict - if you are a priest, please ask your parishioners to join in prayer for the health, safety and protection of the Holy Father.

Coincidentally?

2010-03-22T20:02:00.002-04:00

Today marks the Feast of the great English martyr, St. Nicholas Owen. St. Nicholas, a Jesuit lay-brother, was the famous builder of "priest-holes" and hiding places all over England during the terrible persecution of the Church. All the persecution was, of course, introduced by Parliament, with properly constituted law. My parishioners often smile indulgently when I tell them that, someday, they might have to hide me when laws are introduced here. Coincidentally(?), interesting legislation was passed last night in Congress which, despite all talk of "Executive Orders" will usher in the worst onslaught on the unborn since the infamous 'Roe v. Wade.' Next, as several Democrats have already said is on their agenda, comes the overturning of the Hyde Amendment. Start training in carpentry and hole building - St. Nicholas Owen, pray for us!

Lazarus Rises

2010-03-21T23:59:00.003-04:00

Having had more comebacks than Frank Sinatra - my posts will be infrequent, but not silenced!

"But for Wales, Richard!"

2010-03-21T23:38:00.001-04:00

Goodbye!

2010-03-18T23:49:00.002-04:00

It seems clear to me that it is time to say goodbye - this blog has clearly outlived any usefulness it might have had. I post so infrequently that nobody can be blamed for not looking at the blessed thing. Blogs have always seemed slightly self-indulgent - unless a good number of people say that, for whatever it is worth, in some way, not for my own glory, but that it actually helps their Christian journey, I think that the Feast of St. Joseph will be the time for Funeral orations for the 'Owl of the Remove.' Ciao.

Wisdom from Chesterton

2010-03-17T22:19:00.002-04:00

"The issue is now quite clear; it is between light and darkness and every one must choose his side."

G. K. Chesterton.

The New Anti-Semitism

2010-03-17T21:57:00.003-04:00

Christopher Hitchens

The vile Christopher Hitchens who, if he was writing about Jews or Black people would never be published and, in fact, would probably be prosecuted, has written a vicious, demented and demonic attack on the Pope on Slate.com. It struck me that, even though some would think that I have finally lost my marbles, Catholics, at least in some parts of Europe, but also in some parts of the USA that resemble Europe in their aggressive secularism, are experiencing gradually but perceptibly, what Jewish people experienced in the years leading up to the Holocaust. Absurd, say the naive, well-meaning fools who cannot fathom evil until it gasses six million. Just look at the language of the Hitchens article (actually don't - take my word for it - it's horrible). He is far from unusual. Cashing a check at the bank recently, I noticed the bank clerk looking at the check, the Church name on the cheque (British English), my name (identifying me as priest) - there was a coldness that I can only put down to hostility to the Catholic Church. I may have been wrong, but as I left, I immediately thought of the experiences of Jews in Germany in the 1930's - how little acts of hostility gradually became open contempt and then, finally, legalized persecution. Insane - persecution complex? I don't know - but look at the language of the intelligentsia which hates everything the Church stands for with a passion which is, indeed, demonic.

Owl Hospitalized

2010-03-17T21:54:00.002-04:00

Prayers requested for the Owl: he was recently hospitalized because watching Nancy Pelosi made his toes curl.

The Silence of the Lambs

2010-03-12T21:50:00.003-05:00

Anyone with even a modicum of interest in the fate of the Catholic Church in England, even if in exile across the water, cannot fail to have been gravely concerned about the events of recent weeks. The blogosphere has been alive with some excellent pieces by, among others, Father Ray Blake and Father John Boyle. Without recounting what has happened with the legislation introduced by the Labour government to force Catholic schools to teach abortion, contraception and homosexuality, the real cause of scandal has been the deafening silence of the bishops. One writer on the web referred to this moment as the "crossing of the Rubicon." That is, I think, not too extreme. The Catholic population of England and Wales is facing its gravest crisis since another group of episcopal pygmies decided that, rather than defend the successor of St. Peter, they would prefer the "establishment" of an English national Church. Just one, as we know, demurred - St. John Fisher. Many speak of the bishops keeping silent because they are "working behind the scenes...... waiting until after the election...etc, etc." In this instance, silence, if not signalling consent, at least signifies a stultifying lack of leadership and intestinal fortitude, or what, here in the United States they call "guts!" When the sheep need shepherds, all they get is the silence of the lambs.

Welcome!

2010-03-12T21:45:00.002-05:00

Been a bit quiet for a few weeks, part of the reason to be explained in the next post. I have been contacted by my friend, the great Pastor of St. Mary's Parish in Greenville, South Carolina, Father Jay Scott Newman, with the news that he has entered the blogosphere with a blog entitled Ecclesia Semper Reformanda. I still don't know how to do one of those link things, but go and say hello.

Lenten reading

2010-02-22T19:39:00.003-05:00

Although I hate those meme things, I am intrigued to find out what people are reading for Lent. For my spiritual reading, I am finally reading Pope Benedict's Jesus of Nazareth, just a couple of pages a day. For my Lenten study, Cardinal George's book, The Difference God Makes. He is, I think, the most intellectually able of the current bench of US bishops, and this collection is worth wading through. He echoes John Allen's new book, Future Church (or Allen echoes him), about the need for a return to apologetics, and some interesting things to say about evangelizing US culture.

"The public authority, the government, while it must protect freedom and foster justice, cannot teach. But the Church can; and this claim to teach the truth is truly counter cultural. It explains why anti-Catholicism is a socially and intellectually respectable prejudice among much of the cultural elite in this country. Since the culture is too narrow for Gospel truth, Catholic evangelizers want to enlarge American culture and broaden its vision."

Cardinal Francis George, OMI.

Wisdom from Ronnie

2010-02-22T19:35:00.002-05:00

"Everywhere the politicians who have spoken loudest in the name of justice and of freedom have been the first to deny justice and freedom to their Catholic subjects."

Monsignor Ronald Knox.

Latest Marini News

2010-02-22T19:22:00.003-05:00

Archbishop Marini before rehab.

Just to keep a regular reader happy(!) - the latest news of Archbishop Piero 'Kenny G.' Marini, former Papal MC. As faithful followers of this blog know (all three of them), we have followed, with prayer and concern, Archbishop Marini's frequent visits to liturgical rehab. All the news was positive until recently; he had been seen saying the Novus Ordo 'ad orientem,' had participated in a public burning of felt banners and even attended, in choir dress, an Extraordinary Form Mass. Sadly, I have to report he has once more fallen off the wagon. He is back in the high security liturgical re-education centre, run by the Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest. My sources tell me that he will be there for at least three months, following a strict regime of EF daily Mass, piped-in Gregorian chant and sleep deprivation.

Ugly Britain

2010-02-19T20:50:00.002-05:00

I see from various news reports, and from other blogs, that a concerted attempt is being made by the secular elite and other forces of "toleration" in Britain, to try and disrupt Pope Benedict's visit to Britain in September. I am sure we can expect these "protests," helped by an obliging media, to greatly increase as the visit gets closer. Anti-Catholicism has, of course, always been something of a popular spectator sport in Britain, along with sending children up chimneys and discussing the weather. From this side of the pond, it certainly seems that hostility to the Church is growing in ever-more secular Britain. Who will provide a strong defense of the Church in this hostile climate - the Bishops?

What's Wrong With This Picture?

2010-02-17T21:14:00.003-05:00

Faith, we are constantly told by many prominent 'Catholics' in political life, is an essentially private matter. For at least a thousand years, if not a great deal longer, the public wearing of ashes on the head, given on Ash Wednesday, has indicated a public expression of two things: the fact that one is a sinner in need of repentance and, the commitment to seek reconciliation before the celebration of Easter (according to the General Liturgical Norms and the Ceremonial of Bishops). If you hold a public position against a fundamental teaching of the Church (or several key teachings - abortion, same-sex marriage) and you have no intention of conforming to the solemn teaching of the Church in public or private, in other words, seeking reconciliation, would not the wearing of a public symbol of faith and repentance be, perhaps, hypocritical - something the Lord condemns three times in the Gospel for Ash Wednesday? Maybe the wearing of a public symbol of Catholic faith might perhaps be to do with the Catholic vote? Someone help me out here, I'm just an ignorant "resident alien" with no vote.

Super Bowl of Obligation

2010-02-09T00:02:00.002-05:00

Have been back for a few days, but little time for blogging. Yesterday was the US secular Holy Day of Obligation known as the Super Bowl. This has now become something of a secular para-liturgy. The introductory rites include pretzels, nachos and beer. Then, the main part of the rite develops with the meal, usually taken during half-time, unless the commercials are viewed, which is also very much part of the ritual. After the game, beer etc, is still consumed with the post-game analysis, which is, of course, greatly helped by the amount of beer consumed during the game. Having played Rugby as a youth, I have absolutely no interest in American Football, finding all the stops and starts incredibly irritating, so I had a rather lovely 'silent Super Bowl' - watching a rather fine French movie about the role of Algerian troops in WW II called 'Indigenes.'

Owl

2010-01-24T12:44:00.002-05:00

The Owl will be roosting on another perch for a few days..........

The Chimpanzee Look

2010-01-18T21:35:00.003-05:00

My new official portrait

I am in something of a quandary: my editor at the 'Vermont Catholic Magazine,' the little bi-monthly I write a column for, that is read by literally dozens of readers, does not like the picture that is included with my column each fortnight. I agree with her; it shows the face of a man made only for exposure on radio. I much preferred the old black and white picture they used to use, but now colour is the big thing. However, the reason she, and others, do not like the (new and old) picture is that, apparently, I am not smiling. My eyes, even though they are half-English, are smiling. Why should we smile in official portraits/photographs? When did this fashion appear that we must look like exhibits on the National Geographic Channel? What does a smile convey? I decided to search the official portraits of the Presidents of the United States: you do not see teeth on any US President until....wait for it.....Ronald Reagan! After him, it's all teeth and gums. Gerald Ford has the merest hint of a wintry smile - no teeth, though - like a hint of sunshine on a cloudy day. Dwight D. Eisenhower is serious, so is Lyndon B. Johnson. Gravitas, my friends - that is what an official portrait should convey - not confirmation of Darwin's Origin of the Species.

Dickens and Pickwick

2010-01-18T20:30:00.003-05:00

A couple of years ago I remember stating that one of my New Year resolutions was to "become more Pickwickian." Sadly, I have to report that has not occurred, at least as far as I am aware. However, I am becoming inspired once again, after reading, for the first time, G.K. Chesterton's "literary sketch,' (not biography) Charles Dickens. There is some beautiful writing in this book - my copy is a lovely, mouldy, Methuen & Co., Fourth Edition, dated January 1907. Chesterton truly captures the reason for Dickens success, which most of us only see now by watching the wonderful BBC adaptations (just saw Little Dorrit - wonderful!) He captures the fact, overlooked even by critics in the time of Dickens, of the folkloric/religious character of much of Dickens work and, of course, the fact that the characters are everlasting. A couple of beautiful quotes:

"To every man alive, one must hope, it has in some manner happened that he has talked with his more fascinating friends round a table on some night when all the numerous personalities unfolded themselves like great tropical flowers. All fell into their parts as in some delightful impromptu play. Every man was more himself than he had ever been in this vale of tears. Every man was a beautiful caricature of himself. The man who has known such nights will understand the exaggerations of "Pickwick." The man who has not known such nights will not enjoy "Pickwick" nor (I imagine) heaven. For, as I have said, Dickens is in this matter, close to popular religion, which is the ultimate and reliable religion. He conceives an endless joy; he conceives creatures as permanent as Puck or Pan - creatures whose will to live aeons upon aeons cannot satisfy. He is not come, as a writer, that his creatures may copy life and copy its narrowness; he is come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. It is absurd indeed that Christians should be called the enemies of life because they wish life to last forever; it is more absurd still to call the old comic writers dull because they wished their unchanging characters to last forever. Both popular religion, with its endless joys, and the old comic story, with its endless jokes, have in our time faded together. We are too weak to desire that undying vigour. We believe that you can have too much of a good thing - a blasphemous belief, which at one blow wrecks all the heavens that men have hoped for. The grand old defiers of God were not afraid of an eternity of torment. We have come to be afraid of an eternity of joy...........he is there, as I have said, to exaggerate life in the direction of life. The spirit he at bottom celebrates is that of two friends drinking wine together and talking through the night. But for him they are two deathless friends talking through an endless night and pouring wine from an inexhaustible bottle."

"There are two rooted spiritual realities out which grow all kinds of democratic conception or sentiment of human equality. There are two things in which all men are manifestly and unmistakably equal. They are not equally clever or equally muscular or equally fat, as the sages of the modern reaction (with piercing insight) perceive. But this is a spiritual certainty, that all men are tragic. And this again, is an equally sublime spiritual certainty, that all men are comic. No special and private sorrow can be so dreadful as the fact of having to die. And no freak or deformity can be so funny as the mere fact of having two legs. Every man is important if he loses his life; and every man is funny if he loses his hat, and has to run after it. And the universal test everywhere of whether a thing is popular, of the people, is whether it employs vigorously these extremes of the tragic and the comic.............And all over the world, the folk literature, the popular literature, is the same. It consists of very dignified sorrow and very undignified fun. Its sad tales are of broken hearts; its happy tales are of broken heads."

G. K. Chesterton - Charles Dickens

Poor British!

2010-01-10T19:30:00.004-05:00

News from Britain is grim: the Nation is grinding to a halt, the snow is piling up and there is no salt or grit for the roads -oh, and it's rather chilly! The temptation is to smirk and make comments about shoveling snow yesterday (the regular work of a Vermont Parish Priest) in temperatures of -10F (I don't know what that is in the funny money calculus) - but we will not give in to that temptation, no, not a bit of it. Little note to my friend Father John of 'Caritas in Veritate' - experienced snow-shovelling P.P's do not usually wear the full cassock - tends to get in the way - but the Saturno looks excellent!

Cooking

2010-01-08T21:46:00.007-05:00

In a (slight - and friendly) parody of the inimitable 'Fr. Z' - or Fr. Zed, as the great Father Blake calls him - Friday supper........

Take a beautiful can of the finest Heinz baked beans - English Heinz beans ideally, for flavour and quality. Gently open with a Roman can opener. Pour slowly into a copper-bottomed pan. Heat gently and with love. Meanwhile, prepare two pieces of toast. This will involve opening a packet of bread and inserting the bread into a toaster....you will want your bread to be brown but not burnt..... we in England call it "toast." When you judge that the beans are ready, butter your toast with Kerrygold Irish butter, pour the beans over the toast and, for that final "je ne sais quoi", remove from the fridge the ketchup (tomato sauce in English) and squirt ( a technical "foodie" term) over the "beans on toast." Buon appetito!

p.s. Just saw the movie 'Julie and Julia' about the cook Judith Child - for English readers imagine Fanny Craddock - but more eccentric (is that possible!) - obviously this inspired my friday night culinary masterpiece.

News of the Sick Patient

2010-01-08T21:38:00.002-05:00

Thank you for all the kind comments. The patient is still under the weather but, after the late night anointing, the Owl of the Remove blogs breathing became less laboured and the quartet of nuns who were saying the rosary by the blogs bed noticed some colour returning to the blogs cheeks. I suspect the powerful prayers of the Pastor of one of the finest parishes in the South helped, along with other devout supplications. Partial paralysis may still be an issue, often lasting several weeks.........we must wait......and pray.

Blog Last Rites

2010-01-07T23:35:00.004-05:00

Last night the doctor was summoned to the bedside of the Owl of the Remove blog. It has been sickening for some time. Last night the breathing became laboured, some thought they could hear the death rattle. Several pious women are praying by the bed, hoping for a miraculous recovery.......perhaps their devout petitions will be heard. At the moment, it is 50/50.... the priest was called around midnight to administer the Last Rites......it will all depend on the prayer of the faithful. If the sun comes up in the morning, perhaps there will be life in the old blog, it is so hard to say...there is so little strength in the old and weak body...........prayers please!

Christmas Tradition

2009-12-25T22:11:00.002-05:00

A tradition on this blog (if it happens more than once, it is a tradition!) - a few lines from Hilaire Belloc's wonderful essay, 'A Remaining Christmas,' from his selected essays, Penguin edition, 1958, edited by J. B. Morton.

"Now, you must not think that Christmas being over, the season and its glories are at an end, for in this house there is kept the full custom of the Twelve Days, so that 'Twelfth day,' the Epiphany, still has, to its inhabitants, its full and ancient meaning as it had when Shakespeare wrote. The green is kept in place in every room, and not a leaf of it must be moved until Epiphany morning, but on the other hand not a leaf of it must remain in the house, nor the Christmas tree either, by Epiphany evening. It is all taken out and burnt in a special little coppice reserved for these good trees which have done their Christmas duty; and now, after so many years, you might almost call it a little forest, for each tree has lived, bearing witness to the holy vitality of unbroken ritual and inherited things."

"This house where such good things are done year by year has suffered all the things that every age has suffered. It has known the sudden separation of wife and husband, the sudden fall of young men under arms who will never more come home, the scattering of the living and their precarious return, the increase and the loss of fortune, all those terrors and all those lessenings and haltings and failures of hope which make up the life of man. But its Christmas binds it to its own past and promises its future; making the house an undying thing of which those subject to mortality within it are members, sharing in its continuous survival."

Christmas

2009-12-25T22:02:00.002-05:00

A very blessed and peaceful Christmas to my faithful three readers. Blogging has been obviously light over recent days. We had full Masses - even Midnight which, for English readers is not usually the first Mass of Christmas here in Vermont - we have the ubiquitous "early evening Mass," in some places called the "children's Mass," even though such a thing is not allowed. My first was at 4.30pm, followed by Midnight, then 10.00am. All went well, although I was distressed to have to deal with two instances of people walking off with the Eucharist - it is time for the indult to be revoked - but that's for another post! I was invited to Christmas dinner with a family in the parish who explained to their six year old son that I was called "Father" because they were my family, which I thought was rather nice, especially as all my family is thousand of miles away. Buon Natale!

Exciting News

2009-12-19T21:51:00.004-05:00

Wonderful news from Rome: almost "local" Saint, Blessed Andre Bessette, founder of the world famous Oratory of St. Joseph in Montreal, is to be canonized. Blessed Brother Andre spent some of his summer every year in Richford, next to my old parish in Enosburg, and still has relatives in Vermont. This will be a great event for the highly secularized population of Quebec. Also, the "heroic virtue" of both Pope John Paul II and Pope Pius XII was approved - so now "Venerable John Paul II and Venerable Pius XII."

A Proper Carry- On

2009-12-19T00:24:00.002-05:00

Sid James

2009-12-19T00:22:00.002-05:00

"Oh, Matron!

2009-12-19T00:19:00.001-05:00

Chust for Nice (as Fr. Dwight says)

2009-12-19T00:15:00.001-05:00

The Ubiquity of the Web

2009-12-16T00:29:00.003-05:00

I have had my first experience of the ubiquity of the world-wide web. Although my articles for the former 'Vermont Catholic Tribune,' now known as the 'Vermont Catholic' have my copyright, once something is on the web, copyright does not seem to exist. My articles also appear in the much more widely distributed 'St. Austin Review.' I recently received an email asking me to clarify points I made in an article I had written for 'VirtueOnline' - I was not aware I had written an article for an online magazine of which I had never heard of. Idly googling myself, as one does on a Tuesday evening after Mass, I find I am now on a number of Anglican websites - it's all rather peculiar. At least the article I originally wrote seems rather helpful. I am a great believer in Ecumenism - all roads lead to Rome!

For the English

2009-12-16T00:15:00.001-05:00

"Oh don't, no don't missus!"

Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen

2009-12-15T22:14:00.002-05:00

One of the things my magnificent (!) seminary training ill-prepared me for was "shovelling ministry." For English readers, this excellent course would introduce the seminarian to the idea that, when appointed as a parish priest in Vermont he would: a) spend a considerable amount of his time shovelling snow from church entrances, walkways and parish halls - b) learn the difference between freezing rain and normal rain - which, by the way, if snow is already on the ground, is no difference at all - c) discover that parishioners will complain about snow blocking doorways anyway - even though they could do something about it - like offer to help shovelling!

God bless Al Gore - I'm looking forward to global warming!

Only for the English

2009-12-12T23:35:00.002-05:00

Only the English will get this - Bagpuss - "chust for nice!"

Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe

2009-12-12T23:29:00.002-05:00

As Fr. Dwight says, "chust for nice!"

Feast of St. Juan Diego

2009-12-09T22:50:00.002-05:00

Today, on December 9th, 1531, Our Lady first appeared to St. Juan Diego. We celebrate his Feast Day today. It is worth remembering that, only 2o years later, her image was on one of the ships at the Battle of Lepanto. Perhaps it is time Our Lady of Guadalupe was declared a Solemnity, at least for the Americas?

First Vespers of the Immaculata

2009-12-07T23:40:00.002-05:00

"He fashioned a paradise for the second Adam to dwell in, and that paradise was the body and soul of our blessed Lady, immune from the taint of sin which was the legacy of Adam's curse. It was winter still in all the world around, but in the quiet home where St. Anne gave birth to her daughter, spring had begun. Man's winter, God's spring; the living branch growing from the dead root; for that, year by year, we Christians give thanks to God when Advent comes round. It is something that has happened once for all; we look for no further redemption, no fresh revelation, however many centuries are to roll over this earth before the skies crack above us and our Lord comes again in judgment."

Monsignor Ronald Knox, The Pastoral Sermons.

Advent Meditation

2009-11-30T19:15:00.002-05:00

If anyone is remotely interested, the Owl can be seen on the Diocese of Burlington's website, with a little Advent meditation - it is on the right, with the little movie screen about Advent.

The Purpose of the Priest

2009-11-30T19:09:00.003-05:00

One of them, at least, according to the great philosopher, Joseph Pieper. Appropriate as Advent begins to meditate that, in order to fulfil what Pieper says is one of the priest's functions, silence and meditation is needed.

The priest is called, "above all, to keep alive the remembrance of a face that our intuition just barely perceives behind all immediate and tangible reality - the face of the God-man, bearing the marks of a shameful execution."

Newsflash

2009-11-24T21:43:00.002-05:00

Newsflash - Bishop behaves like Bishop - He "teaches, sanctifies and governs" - hold the press!

Too many Catholic politicians love the label "Catholic" when it comes to election time - all the Bishop is doing is his moral duty - thank God more of them are starting to wake up after 30 years of slumber!

Kudos to Bishop Tobin of Providence, Rhode Island!

Saviour of Catholic Spain

2009-11-20T15:51:00.002-05:00

Today is the anniversary of General Franco - "El Caudillo," the saviour of Catholic Spain, who died on November 20th, 1975. A few lines from Belloc on meeting the General after the battle of Barcelona.

"I was led to the ante-chamber whence I should be ushered into the presence of a man last in succession to those many who on this same general battlefield have endured, planned and achieved Europe's recovery........It may be that the entry into Barcelona will mark another turning point and that a remote posterity may perceive it as something even more of a boundry-stone than the Battle of Warsaw. When Barcelona was set free the effort of those who had destroyed Christendom was, in this field at least, at an end. However this may be, when I entered Franco's presence I entered the presence of one who had fought that same battle which Roland in the legend died fighting and the Godfrey in sober history had won when the battered remnant, the mere surviving tenth of the first Crusaders, entered Jerusalem - on foot, refusing to ride where the Lord of Christendom had offered Himself up in sacrifice.

I will not linger upon that brief experience of mine. I was not there to record for my fellows a personal emotion which perhaps cannot be communicated and which at any rate should not be, but when I had spoken to this man of what he had done for us all and what he meant to us - when I had left him, to retain as I shall ever retain, the impression of those words exchanged in the noble, sombre room of a Spanish palace, majestic as all those proportions are in that land of majesty - I knew that I had experienced something unique. I had been in the air of what has always been the Salvation of Europe - I mean the Spanish Crusade. Worse luck for those who do not understand these things!"

Hilaire Belloc, The Salvation of Spain from Places, first published in 1942.

Roman Pilgrimage

2009-11-20T15:29:00.002-05:00

Been back a week, complete with nasty cold and cough. One of my charming parishioners apparently said that I should not be saying Mass last weekend because of those "foreign germs!" - only in Vermont! I wonder who they imagine would say all the weekend Masses? The Roman pilgrimage was filled with many graces. We did not have good weather, only three days without rain. One evening in Trastevere it rained so much our trousers were soaked past our ankles. We prayed before the tombs of at least 27 Saints - and a number of times in the Clementine Chapel before the first Pope and before John Paul II. We stayed at the Residenza Paolo VI, so had an ideal location for daily Mass at St. Peter's. It was a particular grace each morning, after Mass, to spend an hour in prayer before St. Peter's started to fill up and get noisy. I was lucky enough to be able to say Mass at the altar of St. Josaphat, my ordination day Patron - not on his Feast Day, my anniversary the 12th November, but at our last Mass in St. Peter's on the Tuesday. It was interesting to note how many priests were saying the Extraordinary Form of the Mass at the side altars every day. One of the highlights of the trip was a most gracious audience with Archbishop Raymond Burke, the Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura. Sure to be named a Cardinal next year, Archbishop Burke gave us more than thirty minutes of his time. Most of what we discussed is, of course, "off the record," but suffice it to say he did not disappoint! One interesting comment he made as we left, was his conviction that, in the end, American Catholics will re-evangelize England! As all pilgrimages must have some discomfort, this was kindly supplied by the good people at Alitalia, Italian baggage-handlers and the kind folks at Delta on our return.

Romeward Bound

2009-10-31T21:36:00.002-04:00

The faithful remnant who occasionally look at this blog in the vain hope of anything interesting have had a lean couple of weeks - apologies! My Mother's visit was a whirlwind of being entertained by kind parishioners, then we had the Bishop here last weekend to give the permanent Deacons of the Diocese their annual retreat. Interestingly, a mouse appeared from below the pulpit in the Church on the first night. It was a Low Church Anglican mouse, because it failed to genuflect; by the end of the weekend it was seen saying the Rosary. I am not sure if it is seeking entry into the Church under the new Anglican Ordinariate. I depart for Rome on Monday, All Souls Day, with two priestly companions, on pilgrimage and retreat, in thanksgiving for my fifteenth anniversary of ordination (November 12th, the day we fly back) and for the 'Year for Priests.' I was in Rome for my tenth anniversary, the week Pope John Paul II died, which was an incredible time of grace. While praying for Pope Benedict's good health, I hope for similar graces this time. Your prayers would be appreciated!

Festivities

2009-10-15T13:18:00.002-04:00

Been a little slow on the blogging front over the last week. My Mother arrived a week ago to join the little parish celebration for my fifteenth anniversary. The actual date is November 12th, the Feast of St. Josephat, but I will be returning from a special anniversary/'Year for Priests' pilgrimage/retreat in Rome on that day. So we anticipated with a special Mass last Thursday and a parish 'do!' It was very nice and people were very kind. Parish life seems particularly busy at the moment, and the weather has been horrible - very cold (it snowed on Monday) and not ideal "leaf-peeping" for all the visitors who were in town. Last weekend was the high point of "leaf-peeping" and the 10.30am Mass was almost as full as at Christmas. My Mother had to go out and buy a new coat due to the cold, and the heating has had to be boosted far too early for my liking! After a miserable, wet Summer, we have now had a miserable Fall - the good news is that there are six months of Winter to look forward to - and six months of snow!

Hiding behind a wall of silence

2009-10-04T20:00:00.005-04:00

One of the very enjoyable aspects of being the Parish Priest ('Pastor' in American English) of a four season holiday destination, is that at every Mass, at least 70% of those attending are visitors. As I always tell people, they are happy to be at Mass and, as they are on vacation, the fact that they ARE at Mass shows they are committed Catholics. This weekend, I had visitors from among others places, Massachusetts, New York, Chicago, Canada, Texas, South Carolina and Puerto Rico. The fact that these people attend Mass regularly in their own parishes makes what I am about to say both sad and indicative of the great crisis we are living through. This Sunday was "Respect Life Sunday" here in the United States. Priests and deacons are expected to preach on this subject, even if the readings were principally about marriage. After all three Masses this weekend, numerous people approached me to thank me for my homily. They asked for copies of it (I only have notes which look like Arabic scrawl, so I'll have to work on that!) and told me that they had never heard a pro-life homily that was so clear. I say this not to blow my own trumpet, or to imagine that a new Fulton Sheen has been discovered. It is precisely my point that something is seriously wrong if people from so many different places find it unusual or remarkable that a priest preaches as he is asked to do by Holy Mother the Church. A friend told me that they attended Mass in two different parishes in this diocese over the weekend - nothing approaching a pro-life homily! What is wrong with the clergy? Is is cowardice, people-pleasing, or do they not actually believe in the teaching of the Church? It is no coincidence that the Office of Readings for this morning, the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, was from 'The Pastoral Rule' of Pope St. Gregory the Great. Among other things he writes:

"Negligent religious leaders are often afraid to speak freely and say what needs to be said - for fear of losing favour with people. As Truth himself says, they are certainly not guarding their flock with the care expected of a shepherd but are acting like hirelings, because hiding behind a wall of silence is like taking flight at the approach of the wolf.......If a religious leader is afraid to say what is right, what else can his silence mean but that he has taken flight?"

Pope to Priests: "Get Blogging!"

2009-09-29T12:13:00.002-04:00

Well, he didn't put it exactly like that, but the Pontifical Council for Social Communications released today the theme for World Communications Day, which will be released on January 24th, the Feast of St. Francis de Sales, Patron of writers and journalists. It says that the Papal message will seek to "invite priests, in a particular way....to consider new media as a great resource for their ministry of service to the Word." Just as I was thinking it was time to give up the blog!

New Icon

2009-09-20T13:02:00.003-04:00

This weekend in the parish we blessed the new image, in the icon style, of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. He is in our Church because Stowe is the most popular ski resort in New England and, as the Patron of Skiers and Hikers, Blessed Pier Giorgio provides a wonderful example for all who visit the Church. I hope the veneration of his image will inspire our young people with a greater devotion to the Eucharist and to an active Catholic life. The image is the work of Ken Jan Woo, the Chinese convert artist who has filled Fr. Rutler's Church in NYC with wonderful images.

Rutler on Eulogies

2009-09-05T22:24:00.002-04:00

For your information - the classic piece on eulogies by Fr. Rutler has been reprinted (if that is a computer term) on InsideCatholic.com

Poll on the "Peter Principle"

2009-09-05T18:25:00.004-04:00

Does the "Peter Principle" (that people rise to the level of their incompetence in any kind of organization) apply the most to:

a) The Church

b) Politics

c) Business

d) The Government

e) All of the above

Helloooooooo!

2009-09-03T22:01:00.002-04:00

The kind and computer-savvy Fr. John Boyle aka 'Caritas in Veritate' or "Carrie" to his friends, set up 'Sitemeter' for me when he was here two weeks ago. He said I would discover if three people were really looking at my infrequent and often dull musings, or "supercilious" musings, according to one constant thorn. Well , it seems lots of people have too much time on their hands! I'm sending out a big English "helloooo" in the manner of Terry Thomas, to one and all!

On the Passing of "Great" Men

2009-08-26T19:30:00.004-04:00

Scripture reminds us that it is a "holy and wholesome thing to pray for the dead." That, indeed, is the very purpose of a Catholic Requiem Mass. The eulogy, however, falls into an entirely different category. The Catholic Church was very wise to allow no place for such a dangerous form of speech for most of the last two thousand years. Save the stories for the Wake, which, unlike the contemporary bland "gathering" in a Funeral Parlour here in the US the night before the funeral, used to be in the family home and would involve "veritas" not from vino, but perhaps from Johnnie Walker (Black Label). We now have the contemporary eulogy, or eulogies, delivered by the new priesthood, who celebrate their liturgies via the medium of television. Truth, even in charity, or "caritas in veritate," is not a feature of the new eulogy. This night, a recently departed Senator; a "Catholic" Senator, was described on National Public Radio as a "champion of the oppressed and the needy:" however fifty million unborn Americans obviously did not fit into that Catholic Senator's list of "oppressed and needy."

In November 1997, Father George Rutler, no fawning eulogist or sycophant despite his friendship with Presidents, Princes and Potentates wrote a classic "crie de coeur" in Crisis Magazine, which is more than relevant on this day. Entitled 'Speaking Well of the Dead,' the full article can be found in the archives at InsideCatholic.com, where Crisis now has its internet home. It is quite magnificent: a few choice morsels to whet your appetite in search of the piece -

"In the sanctuary where only truth is to be spoken, eulogies were discouraged in more honest days when even romanticized charlatans and avuncular Caligulas could be buried with the crepe of contrition."

This culture "mocks the imperatives of the mystery (of death) by applauding the guilty as cold-bloodedly as it destroys the innocent. Where the idol worshipped by a culture is one's public image, even candor must be sacrificed to it; and when only the self is celebrated, celebrity canonizes itself."

"In obedience to the Divine Mercy, speaking well of the dead may sometimes require not speaking good of the dead."

"In the moral order, one may not pass final judgment on another....our present problem is not the arrogance of damning souls to hell. The plague is of courtiers who subpoena charity to defend sloth and, having so dazzled the jury, proceed to judge publicly that their little lords are in heaven."

"If eulogies are not sensibly stopped, I do hope they will be more precise."

President Obama will deliver a eulogy on Saturday at the Requiem Mass for Senator Kennedy.

Parish BBQ

2009-08-23T13:42:00.002-04:00

We had our Parish BBQ today, straight after the 10.30am Mass. The weather was hot and humid, but the rain stayed away. Parishioners and visitors were fed with free burgers, hot-dogs and chicken - they had to bring salads and desserts. It seemed to be a nice mix of young and old - but many people were wondering where my priest-Uncle was: poor Fr. John - they thought he was my Uncle - it's the white hair!

Farewell

2009-08-21T22:35:00.004-04:00

Father John, the blogging Parish Priest of South Ashford in Kent has been with me for a week. He leaves on the morrow at the extraordinary form time of 5.15am, having celebrated a private (Extraordinary Form) Mass at 4.30am. He has had wonderful weather for his week here and has done a number of 'Vermont things,' including both swimming in a pond and a river, biking up to Smugglers Notch and being fed by a number of my good parishioners. He will join his priest-brother, Fr. Stephen Boyle, in Marquette, Michigan, where they will stay with Fr. John's good friend the Bishop of Marquette, Bishop Alex Sample. Then they return for a few days in New York City - luckily English priests have a richly deserved proper vacation, something most of Catholic Europe understands, even if it isn't very Catholic anymore. It has been a great joy to have had Fr. John with me and, believe it or not, he finds the Church in this part of Vermont both healthy and impressive! I suppose it takes an outsider to see things we do not see (even if his spectacles are a little rose-tinted!)

The Tablet

2009-08-21T17:54:00.002-04:00

The Tablet editorial team try and clean up their latest mess.

Catholic Man of the Year

2009-08-20T22:41:00.002-04:00

Bishop Edward Slattery, of the Diocese of Tulsa, who has decided to offer all Masses in his Cathedral 'ad Orientem' - the Reform of the Reform continues!

Caritas Arrives

2009-08-15T22:01:00.002-04:00

Caritas in Veritate, better known as Father John Boyle, arrived this evening after his long transatlantic flight. He arrived on what was, without doubt, the hottest day of the year, but seemed remarkably calm and collected. After a swift pint, we repaired to our local Italian hostelry for a Spaghetti alla Puttanesca. He came with the urgent supplies of Marmite, the lack of which was beginning to cause serious psychological problems for this writer. Tomorrow, the good Father, if the jet-lag is not too bad, will join me for the 10.30am Mass - I don't think he will make the 8.00am.

Newman Anniversary

2009-08-11T22:03:00.002-04:00

Today, the feast of St. Clare of Assisi, is also the anniversary of the death of the Venerable John Henry Cardinal Newman. This year's anniversary takes on a special significance because of the announcement of Cardinal Newman's beatification next year. I sincerely hope 'The Tablet/Bitter Pill' doesn't get its way and have the beatification turn into an absurd Anglicanfest, pretending that Newman really "didn't believe in all that conversion to the true Church business."

Father Rutler sent me an interesting email with the report from The Times (of London, of course) for August 12th. 1890. Although the tone of the report speaks of his greatness, it is interesting to note that the theme of the report is that Newman, great as he was, may not have been that influential..... "For the present a mighty man has fallen, yet we are much as we were."

"The truth is that the great Cardinal has occupied so exceptional a place in human affairs that, while he has largely influenced them, he has had himself to discover and even to recognize that they could go on without him...........Forty years have now shown that the Church of England can pursue its course without his guidance or his warnings; still more have they shown that it is not such men the Church of Rome most trusts and employs." One might almost say that was a Tabletesque hatchet job! Yet there is a line of prophecy which goes to show that the object of yesterdays hatchet job is, nearly 120 years later, going to be England's next Beati - and possibly a Doctor of the Church in good time: "It was his own choice to be Athanasius contra mundum. Whether from his ashes will arise the avenger, to do for him the work he has not seen done with his own eyes, and so reverse the judgment of time, is beyond even conjecture." Is it?

Welcome Back!

2009-08-02T19:41:00.002-04:00

My good friend, and my Mother's most solicitous and caring parish priest, Father John Boyle, is back in the world of blogging. Formerly the notorious "South Ashford Priest," Father John's new blog is called "Caritas in Veritate" - I wonder if he got that idea from anyone important? Judging from the comments on other blogs, many people are very happy that he is back, this infrequent blogger included! Father John will be here with me in Vermont in a couple of weeks as he begins his vacation; unfortunately he can only stay a few days before he heads to another part of the USA to join his priest-brother, Father Stephen Boyle, for the rest of their break. Father John is a model parish priest and greatly impressed a number of my parishioners in my last parish when he visited. Welcome back, Father John!

Back

2009-07-20T21:50:00.002-04:00

Been back since last Thursday - arrived at 12.15am - hit the ground running since then - wedding, baptism, funeral. Vermont has, apparently, been having the wettest Summer in years; somehow those lame jokes about English weather fall a little flat! To anyone who makes sarcastic comments, I ask whether they saw any Wimbledon - no rain!

Our Lady of Consolation

2009-07-12T12:15:00.003-04:00

The Owl at prayer before the image - praying for strength for his missionary work in the Colonies.

More Pictures

2009-07-12T12:07:00.002-04:00

Shipley Mill and Kingsland

More Pilgrimage pictures

2009-07-12T12:00:00.005-04:00

Belloc's grave and the Relics of Blessed Francis Bell

Bellocian Pilgrimage

2009-07-12T11:29:00.005-04:00

Last Friday we went on a little pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation, West Grinstead, Sussex. Father John Boyle joined us and was an excellent map reader! The Shrine, in a lovely part of Sussex, is the first shrine in honour of Our Lady to be established in England since the Reformation. Due to the devotion of the Caryll family, recusants who kept the "old religion" throughout the dark days of persecution, a Priest's House was built on part of their West Grinstead estate. Originally just a small cottage, the priests lived there disguised as local shepherds. The hay loft which was added was, in fact, the Secret Chapel where Mass was celebrated. There were, in addition, two priest's hides (Priest Holes) in the chimney breast. This priest house became what is probably the oldest continuously occupied presbytery (Rectory) in England. One of the priests who lived there was Father John Gennings, the brother of the martyr St. Edmund Gennings. The particular martyr most associated with the shrine is Blessed Francis Bell whose relics are now in the Secret Chapel. I was privileged to celebrate Mass in the Secret Chapel, with my Mother and Father John, and to venerate the relics of Blessed Francis Bell. We also saw the Priest Hole where priests would sometimes have to hide for up to two weeks. It is only big enough for a man to stand in - no wider! The extraordinary thing about this place is that no priest was ever discovered, otherwise the house would probably have been destroyed. The beautiful Church and Shrine were only consecrated in 1896.

The Church was, of course, Hilaire Belloc's parish Church and his final resting place, hence the reason for the second part of our pilgrimage. After prayers before the image of Our Lady, we venerated the tomb of "Old Thunder." Then we went over to see the outside of his family house, Kingsland, where he wrote so much, and his windmill. The property is still in the hands of his family, but not open to the public. Then, in true Bellocian fashion, we repaired to a local inn to eat a Ploughman's lunch, washed down with a pint of wallop, which Father John pronounced to be "very tasty." Belloc would have approved.

The picture is a rare view of the Owl celebrating the Mass in the Secret Chapel. More pictures in the next post.

Antonio the Olive Tree

2009-07-08T17:48:00.003-04:00

Time for another picture of my favourite tree in my Mother's garden: Antonio the Olive Tree. I have been spending a quiet time with my Mother and family, catching up with my sister,nephew, niece, a cousin, my Uncle and, at the weekend, my brother. I took the advice of various folks and have not rushed about, mainly due to intense weariness. However, yesterday I had a very enjoyable study day with some priests in Clapham. Together with my friend Father John Boyle, formerly the infamous blogger 'South Ashford Priest,' the notorious 'Hermeneutic of Continuity,' and about 25 other priests, mainly from the Archdiocese of Southwark, but including some FSSP priests, an Opus Dei priest and some brethren from the Diocese of Brentwood, we had a wonderful talk for the "Year for Priests" from Father Anthony Doe, of the Archdiocese of Westminster. This initiative was most impressive; a group of priests, led by our generous host, Fr. Chris Basden, organizing their own ongoing formation, and gathering both for intellectual and spiritual input and priestly fraternity. Although some of the brethren seemed to have rather rose-tinted spectacles about how wonderful everything is in the Church in the good old US of A, I think this gathering was a sign of good things happening in the Archdiocese of Southwark. On Friday, my Mother and Father John will accompany me on a little pilgrimage to West Grinstead, to the Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation, where we will celebrate Mass in the secret Chapel used by the hunted priests during the previous Elizabethan persecution of the Church (another one is coming) and venerate the tomb of Hilaire Belloc.

Antonio the Olive

2009-07-04T17:35:00.002-04:00

As promised, the first pictures of Antonio the Olive Tree, in my Mother's garden in Southern England, circa 2009. A solemn 'Te Deum' will offered for all who contribute to continued global warming.

In the Garden of England

2009-07-01T11:03:00.004-04:00

Been home now for two full days, so the jet-lag is starting to wear off. Flew on a bizarrely small plane on the transatlantic part of the flight, from Philly to Gatwick. Stuck next to the loos for the whole flight: I offered it up for the sins of my parishioners. Not impressed with US Airways, seemed more like a budget airline, but without the charm of JetBlue. Gatwick was the usual British chaos everyone seems to have got used to in this country. The weather is wonderful - very sunny and warm, with everything green and fecund. Wimbledon is in full swing, with the new roof on the Centre Court keeping any rain off - there isn't any rain! The weather people on the television are in full "nanny State" mode, warning of the dangers of the heat and "procedures to take to avoid heatstroke;" we really are that stupid, apparently. I have decided that I am not going to rush around this year, trying to see everybody; mainly because I really seem to be very tired, and have been for weeks, so I clearly need a real holiday with my family and also - people can come and see me! So I am sitting in my mother's beautiful garden, reading (John Senior's 'The Restoration of Christian Culture,' and 'The Distilled Kinglsey Amis'). Her olive tree is doing very well in the heat - yes, that's not a typo - her OLIVE TREE - in South-East England! So I fully intend to encourage all forms of global warming - please do your part and go out for a needless drive in your SUV, then grill something, but make sure the air conditioning is turned up in the house. If I can work out the technical stuff, I may even use my mother's camera and put a picture of said olive tree up on the next post. I think, in the manner of Fr. 'Z', I will name the tree Antonio, in honour of St. Anthony who, once again, got me and my bags safely home. (P.S..... the picture is an old one - that's why the trees don't have any leaves!)

Home

2009-06-27T23:56:00.002-04:00

Flying tomorrow, after Masses and a Baptism - Burlington to Philly - to London. Should be home in Kent by 10.00am, English time. Time for my annual visit with family and friends and, hopefully, a little Bellocian pilgrimage. News after arrival. Prayers for good travel please!

St. Anthony Guide....

2009-06-27T12:38:00.002-04:00

He really is a jolly good fellow!

Year for Priests

2009-06-18T21:37:00.002-04:00

With first Vespers of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, the 'Year for Priests,' called for by our Holy Father, Pope Benedict, begins. With an absolutely beautiful and challenging letter, the Holy Father, it what seems to be a very personal letter, proposes the life and ministry of St. John Vianney as the model for all of us who have the burden and grace of the priesthood. A high ideal! Perhaps I could suggest, as there are now a number of priest-bloggers, special prayers for all those priests - and, of course DAILY prayer for your own parish priest - don't you do that already - and if not, why not?

Belloc Caricature

2009-06-16T21:11:00.003-04:00

I have wanted a decent Belloc caricature for some time. I have one created while he was alive - but what fun to commission a new one! Thanks to Ted Schluenderfritz at the Catholic Illustrator's Guild (smallpax.com), I am now the proud possessor of an original watercolour. I asked him to have Belloc holding a glass of wine, as all Bellocian's know, not something unusual - and to add the lines from one of Belloc's letters which I like: "Now the Faith is not taught. It is inhabited and breathed in." As the image has already appeared on the Web, I would ask, if anyone wants to use it, that they acknowledge the artist - Ted Schluenderfritz - and the fact that it is in the private collection of the owner - the Owl - thank you!

Speech in Egypt

2009-06-11T22:32:00.003-04:00

"Yes, my darling; it is true. But I want to hear it again and again. Tell me again what you saw."

"I saw the Son of Man," she said. "Oh! there is no other phrase. The Saviour of the world, as that paper says. I knew Him in my heart as soon as I saw Him - as we all did - as soon as He stood there holding the rail. It was like a glory around His head. I understand it all now. It was He for whom we have waited so long; and He has come, bringing Peace and Goodwill in His hands. When He spoke, I knew it again. His voice was as - as the sound of the sea - as simple as that - as - as lamentable - as strong as that. - Did you not hear it?"

Oliver bowed his head.

"I can trust Him for all the rest," went on the girl softly. "I do not know where He is, nor when He will come back, nor what He will do. I suppose there is a great deal for Him to do, before He is fully known - laws, reforms - that will be your business, my dear. And the rest of us must wait, and love, and be content."

Lord of the World by Monsignor Robert Hugh Benson, page 98.

Pentecost

2009-05-31T14:15:00.002-04:00

Four men ordained yesterday to the sacred priesthood for this little diocese in the back of beyond - sunshine and a full Co-Cathedral. All fine men, properly formed in their Seminaries, they will serve the Church well in Vermont - the 'Year for Priests' will bring great blessings after so many tough years for faithful priests. I hope their parishioners will love and support them

Where are they now? (part One)

2009-05-31T14:08:00.003-04:00

Many have been wondering where Archbishop Piero Marini, the former Papal MC went after his time in liturgical rehab. Sadly, there was a relapse, something about liturgical dance and bongo drums. I gather he is now doing a six month sentence. He can just be seen in this picture, at the 'Blessed Pius IX High Security Rest Home.'

Papal Blessing!

2009-05-31T13:55:00.002-04:00

What a blessing to have a musician Pope! Sitting down after the third Pentecost Mass of the weekend, what a joy to turn on EWTN and see the Papal Mass for Pentecost. The parts of the Mass were from Haydn's 'Harmoniemesse,' with full orchestra and the choir from Cologne Cathedral. As the Pope said in his beautiful homily, this Mass was written for the glory of God by Haydn, and how appropriate to hear it, not in a concert hall, but in its proper setting. Unfortunately, it once again throws into relief the poor quality of the Sistine Chapel choir - Susan Boyle and the local karaoke group from her Pub would be an improvement.

Blog Recovers from Near-Death Experience

2009-05-24T19:56:00.002-04:00

My three readers will have noticed a little quietness recently on the Owl's blog. Among other things, Confirmation, First Communion, end of the year for religious education and other things all conspired together. Add to that trying to prepare homilies, and my column for 'The Vermont Catholic Tribune' and the 'Saint Austin Review' - needless to say, the blog has been on the back-burner. I have also had the joy of having my Mother and Godmother staying with me for the last two weeks. I am sure you are all getting out your hankies as you begin to weep for me in my busyness. However, that is not my body in the hearse (although I would rather like a horse-drawn hearse when the Lord should call me - note to the Chancellor of the Diocese). The blog did seem to be close to its eternal demise; the priest was even called in to administer Extreme Unction and, miraculously, it seems to be returning to life. A number of people have asked me if I would post my homilies on this blog: I usually only use notes, and find it it a little odd to "write' a homily which, in essence, is a uniquely 'spoken' text, but, after this weekend's several requests, I might try and do it tomorrow - Happy Memorial Day to US readers! (Happy May Bank Holiday to UK readers!)

Noah's Ark found in Vermont

2009-05-09T23:45:00.001-04:00

It's been raining for days..........

Swine Flu Over

2009-05-04T23:25:00.003-04:00

The Flu has been mild - Mexico declares the crisis over: (the 'first wave' of an epidemic normally takes at least six to eight weeks) While we can all hope for the best, a couple of historical facts, all taken from John Barry's 'The Great Influenza.'

"As it passed from person to person it adapted to its new host, became increasingly efficient in its ability to infect and changed from the virus that caused a generally mild first wave of disease in the Spring of 1918 to the lethal and explosive killer of the second wave in the Fall." (p.370)

"When the virus floats in the air (it is an airborne pathogen) it can infect someone else for anywhere from an hour to a day after it is exhaled (the lower the humidity the longer the virus survives)" (p.256)

"All influenza viruses mutate constantly" (p.92)

In the 1918 pandemic "influenza killed more people in a year than the Black Death of the Middle Ages killed in a century; it killed more people in twenty-four weeks than AIDS has killed in twenty-four years." (p.5)

Tips For the Great Influenza

2009-05-01T00:04:00.002-04:00

1. Along with frequent hand washing - frequent Confession.

2. Making peace with enemies/those who have a grievance against us.

3. Daily Rosary.

4. Prayers for good death to St. Joseph.

5. "Keep death daily before you" - Rule of St. Benedict.

6. Joy and Peace.

7. If possible, daily Mass.

A Cartoon

2009-04-30T16:27:00.001-04:00

From the great Catholic cartoon blog

A Woman of Substance

2009-04-29T19:41:00.003-04:00

As we all know by now, Professor, and former Ambassador, Mary Ann Glendon has politely declined to accept the 'Laetare Medal' which she was to have received at the same time as Julian Felsenburgh was being feted at Notre Dame University. Her short letter, published on the 'First Things' website, is the work of a Catholic statesman (there is no such thing as a 'stateswoman'). St. Thomas More, the Patron of Statesmen, would be proud of her. In a world where political expediency and "political correctness" seem to be the prerequisite for success, Ambassador Glendon has served the Catholic community well. Apparently Notre Dame and its increasingly embarrassing President are going to "give the award to someone else." How demeaning to received a second-hand award, rather like the bargains one finds in a supermarket with the "sell-by date" already expired.

The Great Influenza

2009-04-25T19:44:00.003-04:00

Having not been up to much blogging for a while, I'm re-starting with a really gloomy one (got to keep the folks at home happy!). Some truly extraordinary things have happened in the last few weeks: the scandalous (in the Scriptural sense of the word) story of Georgetown covering the Holy Name and other Catholic 'symbols,' at the express request of the White House for the speech by Felsenburgh. Then Secretary of State Clinton's terrifying remarks about Margaret Sanger and the Felsenburgh Administration's policy of reversing pro-life laws all over the world. It has always surprised me that people who believe in a God of justice do not believe for one minute that we will ever be punished for the genocide of abortion. Health officials have been predicting for many years that it is only a matter of time before there is another world flu pandemic, on the scale of the 1918 pandemic, or even worse. That pandemic began in Kansas, and was incubated in pigs. John Barry's magisterial history of that period, 'The Great Influenza,' estimates that the 1918 pandemic killed between 50 - 100 million people in the world. God does not send evil - but He may allow this evil for a greater good. Watch your news tonight.

Roosting

2009-04-21T23:15:00.002-04:00

The Owl has been rather quiet recently - apologies to my three readers (it may be two by now) - after the incredible busyness of Holy Week/Easter, the Owl was roosting on another perch for a few days.

Talk at St. Mary's

2009-04-10T00:33:00.002-04:00

My talk on the English Martyrs is rather hard to find on the St. Mary's, Greenville, website. For anyone who is interested, it is under the 'Adult Sunday School' section. I thought it went rather well.

Holy Thursday

2009-04-09T23:25:00.002-04:00

A blessed and holy sacred three days to all!

The South is Rising Again!

2009-04-06T22:06:00.002-04:00

Although the picture refers to a different kind of rising - after my short visit to Greenville, South Carolina, I can certainly assert that the future of the Church in the United States will be heavily influenced by what is going on down South. Visiting the parish of the great Father Jay Scott Newman, and blogger-in-chief, Father Dwight Longenecker, after a wonderful supper with Fr. Newman, Fr. Longenecker and Joseph Pearce on the night of my arrival, I heard confessions for several hours on Wednesday. Then on Thursday I gave my lecture on the English Martyrs (apparently it will be on the St. Mary's website). On Friday before my flight back, I joined Fr. Dwight to celebrate Mass and preach at St. Joseph's School, which was extremely impressive. 500 young people - in nice uniforms, a beautiful choir and a devout celebration. A short and intense visit - but encouraging - the Church is alive!

Owl in Greenville

2009-03-30T20:00:00.003-04:00

Astute readers will gather from my last post that the Owl is flying! Tomorrow I head down to Greenville, South Carolina, to St. Mary's Parish, to give a lecture on the English Martyrs. Invited by their eminent Pastor, Father Jay Scott Newman, I will also be with world famous blogger, Fr. Dwight Longenecker, and my new editor at 'The St. Austin Review,' the prolific Catholic biographer and writer in residence at Ave Maria University, (and fellow Englishman) Joseph Pearce. Prayers, please, for a successful visit and safe return on Friday.

Publication Promised

2009-03-30T19:58:00.002-04:00

I promised St. Anthony, who always guides my bags when I fly, that I would let everyone know what a good chap he is - so there we are!

"Who painted it?"

2009-03-28T21:08:00.003-04:00

This really should be a candidate for a caption competition, but truth is stranger, or more ridiculous, than fiction. Our Secretary of State, on her visit to Mexico went to the Shrine of Guadalupe to see the 'Tilma' - "it's beautiful," she said, "who painted it?" Wonderfully, probably without a smile, the Rector of the Cathedral replied, "God." There is no record of Madame Clinton's response. Tonight she receives the highest award Planned Parenthood can give, the Margaret Sanger Award (you can't invent this stuff!). Why not the Joseph Mengle Award for medical experimentation, the Adolf Eichmann Award for racial purification? Margaret Sanger was a racist, proponent of eugenics - and Hilary accepts an award in her name. The smoke of Satan is curling around the portals of this regime and, as one of the senior priests in our diocese, a wonderful man still working in his mid-eighties, said to me this week: "there is going to be a terrible persecution very soon." Read some of Michael O'Brien's articles at Studiobrien - especially the latest one on Globalization - the man is a prophet.

St. Joseph Icon

2009-03-25T21:08:00.002-04:00

The first (not too clear) picture of the new icon of St. Joseph. Written by a member of the community of the St. Isaac of Syria Skete in Wisconsin, the icon, a gift to the parish by an anonymous benefactor, was created in the traditional manner, with over 80 hours of prayer and fasting. Using gesso and egg tempera, the icon painter (or writer) followed all the canons of the Orthodox Church in its preparation. I am particularly invoking St. Joseph for the Parish as 'Guardian of the Church and Protector of Priests.'