Beatification Report - Bl. John Henry Newman Shrine at Oxford Oratory

The Oxford Oratory is the third of the English Oratories and the only one not established within John Henry Newman's life though it is close to the heart of the city in which he spent a significant part of his life. During Newman's lifetime Bishop Ullathorne attempted three times to bring the Oratorians to Oxford but despite considerable efforts it was not be. It was not until 1990 when the Birmingham Oratory realised Newman's dream when it responded to an invitation to take over the running of The Church of St Aloysius, which in 1993 became an independent congregation.

Newman's Shrine at Oxford is temporary feature. It is made up of a painting by William Ouless, aedicule and altarino by Timothy Newbery and achievement of arms by Tom Meek. Located at the back of the right hand aisle it clearly lacks the impact of those at both Birmingham and London. However, the Oratory is in the process of a major building project which will see a permanent chapel to Newman, the descriptions of which are most impressive. A substantial fundraising appeal is in progress and I look forward to seeing the chapel once complete.


Founded in 1875, the Church of St Aloysius was originally served by Jesuit Fathers. It was designed by Joseph Aloysius Hansom (1802-1888), incidentally also designer of the Handom Cab and Birmingham Town Hall, and was inspired by French Gothic. Originally decorated in Italianate style in the fifties it then became two tone grey which has been superseded by more colourful refurbishment. Whilst impressive throughout the most striking feature is undoubtedly the 52 statues of saints and angels and two saints heads behind the altar which dominate the Church.




Newman spent a considerable portion of this life in Oxford, as student at Trinity College, a Fellow of Oriel College and an Anglican Minister. It was here he formed many of the ideas that he built on during his time in Dublin and in his 'Idea of a University' and indeed he is credited with establishing the tutorial system common throughout university education today.


Leaving Oxford soon after his conversion, Newman lived in effective exile from Oxford and its academic life until in 1878 he was made the first Honourary Fellow by Trinity College. I was struck by the words in Father Jerome Bertram's Book Newman's Oxford, "So it came about that it was the Observatory that he was to leave on the morning of the 23rd, not to see Oxford again for many years, save only its spires as they are seen from the railway." But to quote Newman's own words, "To live is to change, and to be perfect is to change often."

Blessed John Henry Newman pray for us!

Our Lady's Month IV - The Miracle of Fatima (1952)

The Miracle Of Our Lady Of Fatima is a feature film made in 1952. It starred Susan Whitney as Lucia dos Santos, Sammy Ogg as Francisco Marto, and Sherry Jackson as Jacinta Marto. Neither of the three had particularly notable prior or subsequent careers. Sammy Ogg went on to become a Protestant minister. Gilbert Roland, already a divorcee at the time, was cast in the entirely fictional role of Hugo, a kindly agnostic friend of the three children, who rediscovers his faith in God through the Miracle of the Sun. The musical score by Max Steiner received an Academy Award nomination and the soundtrack includes several traditional hymns.

An obvious error in the introduction to the film is the date of 15th May, 1917, when the first apparition took place on 13th May, 1917. The film is unremarkable for the quality of its script and acting but is, nevertheless, a reverent pastiche of the story of Fatima, albeit one that largely omits Our Lady's message, for example, "in the end God will triumph" rather than "my Immaculate Heart". While it can certainly be classed as a 'Catholic' film, it is one created for a general audience.

When the film was shown to Sr. Lucia she is reported not to have liked the film. I don't disagree but as a portrayal of Our Lady, it is an example of the better forms that were once observed. The voice of Our Lady - and oddly of Sr. Lucia as an older nun - was that of Angela Clarke. The figure of Our Lady is throughout indistinct but dignified. The conclusion of the film is a presentation of a ceremony at the Fatima of the day together with a rather odd reunion between Sr. Lucia and Hugo.

Our Lady's Month III - Universae Ecclesiae

This morning the Holy See published the text of Universae Ecclesiae, the Instruction of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei on the Implementation of the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum.



Dignare me laudare te Virgo Sacrata. Da mihi virtutem contra hostes tuos.

Latin Mass in Holy Cross Abbey

Our Lady's Month II - Song of Bernadette (1943)

The Song of Bernadette is a 1943 drama film which tells the story of Saint Bernadette Soubirous, who reported 18 visions of Our Lady at Lourdes from February to July, 1858. It was directed by Henry King.

The film was adapted from a novel written by Franz Werfel. The novel was published in 1942. For more than a year it was on the New York Times Best Seller list, at no. 1 for 13 weeks.

The plot follows the novel by Franz Werfel, which is not a documentary but a historical novel blending fact and fiction. Bernadette's real-life friend Antoine Nicolau is portrayed in both novel and film as being deeply in love with her, and vowing to remain unmarried when Bernadette enters the convent but there is no evidence of romantic feelings between them. The government authorities, in particular Imperial Prosecutor Vital Dutour (played by Vincent Price) are portrayed as being much more anti-religion than they actually were. Dutour was in reality a devout Catholic who simply thought Bernadette was hallucinating. Other portrayals come closer to historical accuracy, particularly Anne Revere and Roman Bohnen as Bernadette's overworked parents, Charles Bickford as Father Peyramale, and Blanche Yurka as Bernadette's formidable Aunt Bernarde. The film ends with the death of Bernadette, and does not mention the exhumation of her body or her canonization, as the novel does.

The Song of Bernadette won four Oscars in the 1943 Academy Awards for best leading actress (Jennifer Jones), best art direction, best cinematography, and best musical score. In addition, the film was nominated for a further eight categories: best supporting actor (Charles Bickford), best supporting actress (both Gladys Cooper and Anne Revere), best director, best film editing, best picture, best sound recording, and best screenplay. In the first Golden Globe Awards in 1944, the film won three awards, for best director, best motion picture, best leading actress (Jones).

Franz Werfel was a jew - not untypically in a Hollywood described as Jews producing Catholic films to be watched by Protestants. The book was written by Werfel in fulfilment of a vow that he made having hidden in Lourdes for some weeks during his and his family's successful escape from the Nazis.

Casting aroused considerable speculation and illustrates a healthy reverence among the film makers. Various reasons have given for casting Jennifer Jones in her first starring role (and only her third motion picture) but among them is that a figure unsullied by other associations was sought. The part of 'the Lady' went to Linda Darnell but her part was not advertised at the time because "it would shatter the illusion to have an actress connected with the part of the Virgin Mary" - a far cry from later treatment of Our Lady in film.

Our Lady's Month I - Queen of the May!

The ones the got away - Emo

It has been pointed out to me that this series is (inadvertently) providing a 'hit list' for the wreckovators. Sadly, as I said in my first post, the (misplaced) zeal of architectural modernists has by no means been abated either by the pastoral failure of their plans, the increasing poverty of the country or by Pope Benedict's hermenutic of continuity. If I were to make a guess, nothing this side of the grave is going to abate their zeal to destroy beauty.

Another example of the beauty of traditional ecclesiastical architecture is the Church of St. Paul at Emo, Co. Laois, which has been featured several times on this blog and which has occasionally welcomed the celebration of Mass in the Usus Antiquior since the promulgation of Summorum Ponfiticum.

The details of the Church will be found on previous posts here and here but I include a few of the earlier pictures by way of illustration:







It's our Catholic heritage and we want it preserved!

Urbi et Orbi Easter 2011

Conclusion, conclusion, conclusion

You know when I was doing my exams they told me that for the English essays, come hell or high water, the conclusion had to be proper. That was the one essential component to getting a good grade. So the Pope has released a new prayer for the Jews - sadly only for the Extraordinary Form. I reserve all opinions to myself about it except this one. Which imbecile underling didn't check the rubrics?

All the Good Friday prayers end with what is known as the "long conclusion" - Per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum, Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat, in unitate Spiritu Sancte, Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum - Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, unto all ages, world without end. Some "Per eundem Dominum..." - I hope you'll remember that post about the bishop who wrote to Rome over eundem (or in his case eumdem)

Back in the 'good old days' of reform (*cough) , the revisers decided to eliminate this long conclusion which has been attached to all the Collects, Secrets and Postcommunions due to Gallican influence and return to the simple Roman ending "Per Christum Dominum nostrum" - Through Christ our Lord - for the retitled Super oblata, the Postcommunion and many of the prayers, blessings and certain collects (like Good Friday) And looking at the new prayers for the Jews, what do my eyes behold but "Per Christum Dominum nostrum" instead of the long ending.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! Hope they correct this one! Unless maybe the Holy Father is hinting that he is going to change the OF prayer. Hmmmmmm.........

Casting my mind back I was just thinking about the changes to this oration on Good Friday. Incremental is the word I'm looking for. In 1948, it was allowed to translate "perfidi" with a little more leeway. This lead to a good many hand missals switching from "perfidious" to "unbelieving" or similar. This was re-enforced when Pius XII quite firmly explained its meaning later. Then in 1956, the words "Oremus. Flectamus Genua. Levate" was added in the new order of Holy Week and everyone knelt before the prayer for the Jews. In 1959, in a letter to the Cardinal Vicar of Rome, later communicated to the world's bishops, John XXIII excised "perfidi" from the prayer. In 1965, the prayer was retitled, the introduction was changed and the prayer itself was the one that would later be used in the 1970 Missal. As follows:

Pro Iudaeis Oremus et pro Iudaeis: ut Deus et Dominus noster faciem suam super eos illuminare dignetur; ut et ipsi agnoscant omnium Redemptorem, Iesum Christum Dominum nostrum. Oremus. Flectamus genua. Levate.Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui promissiones tuas Abrahae et semini eius contulisti: Ecclesiae tuae preces clementer exaudi; ut populus acquisitionis antiquae ad Redemptionis mereatur plenitudinem pervenire.

And then in 1970 the introduction was once again changed and the kneeling exhortations made according to local custom.

Oremus et pro Iudaeis, ut, ad quos prius locutus est Dominus Deus noster, eis tribuat in sui nominis amore et in sui foederis fidelitate proficere. Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui promissiones, etc.

First published in February, 2008

Sixth Anniversary of the Election of Pope Benedict XVI

Today is the sixth anniversary of the election of Our Most Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI.



TE DEUM LAUDAMUS!

Mass for the Pope's Birthday

This afternoon Mass was celebrated in the Gregorian Rite for the Pope's intentions on the occasion of his 84th birthday in St. Andrew's Church, Bagenalstown (Muine Bheag), Co. Carlow.

Bagenalstown is a town of about 2,500 souls, although it didn't see any noticable increase in population between 2002 and 2006. The town's motto is 'The Irrepressible Number,' which seems to be 65, the number of Bagneltonians who turned out today to celebrate the Pope's birthday with the members of St. Conleth's Catholic Heritage Association.

The body of the Church of St. Andrew c. 1817 is attributed to Thomas Cobden, the architect of Carlow Cathedral. The Church was renovated, with the addition of the steeple, and was rededicated on 9th October, 1893. Dr. Shennan, Bishop of Waterford and Lismore (r.1892-1915), preached the sermon on the occasion in the presence of Dr. Lynch, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin (r. 1888-1896). The porches were added in 1917, and the Sodality Chapel was added for the Marian Year, 1954.

The Sanctuary extension is the work of William Hague (1836-1899), the Diocese's most prolific architect, who had already completed Churches at Clane (1876-1884), Monasterevin (1880), Rathvilly (1883-1887), White Abbey, Kildare (1884-1889), Rathanna (1885), Rathoe (1885-1889), The Hollow (1887), and commenced at Abbeyleix (1892-1895) before working on the Sanctuary of St. Andrew's, Bagenalstown (1893) for Very Revd. Fr. Edward Burke, P.P., who had been a Professor in Carlow College when Hague had built a new wing (1879) and a College Chapel (1885-88)(now a library!) After Bagenalstown, Hague went on to build the Parish Church at Stradbally (1893-96). He had submitted designs for additions to the Parish Churches of Kildare Town and Newbridge. Certainly Kildare had reason to wish they had accepted his design, as the proposal that was accepted included a statue that fell upon and killed the Parish Priest, Dr. Kavanagh, who had rejected Hague's design as too expensive.







Walter Bagenal (1670-1745) of nearby Dunleckney House laid out the town in an attempt to establish a profitable trade route through his land based upon the River Barrow. It is laid out on a grid pattern lying upon the River Barrow in imitation, it is said, of Versailles. However, the only evidence of the 'New Versailles' planned is the fine old Courthouse overlooking the river that is built in the form of a small classical temple modelled on the Parthenon in Athens. Bagenal had been able to regain the family estates from the Crown by perverting to the Church of Ireland. He was the father of the famous rake Beauchamp Bagenal. References to 'the Lord Bagenal' appear to have arisen from the 'lordly bearing' of Beauchamp. There was never a title in the family.

Walter's father, Colonel Dudley Bagenal (1638-1712) had his Carlow estates, lost previously under the Cromwellian regime, restored by King Charles I. He fought in the Battle of the Boyne as a Colonel of an Infantry Regiment, was declared a traitor by William of Orange and his estates were again forfeit. He was Gentleman Usher to King James II at the Stuart Court in Exile at St. Germains.

Walter's grandfather, and namesake Colonel Walter Bagenal (1614-1652) was executed by Cromwellian troops. He had been Governor of County Carlow in 1641 and Colonel in the Leinster Army of Catholic Confederacy. Walter the elder was the son of George Bagenal (d. 1625), who built Dunleckney House, and Lady Joane Butler, daughter of James Butler, 11th Earl of Ormonde and 4th Earl of Ossory (1569-1632). One of the famous Butlers of Kilcash, James was known as James of the Beads for his great devotion to the Rosary and the Catholic Faith. We spent many years imprisoned in the Fleet Prison in London for opposing James I's disposition of the Butler estates to a cousin who had married one of his Protestant favourites.

George's father, Dudley (d. 1587), who was the grandfather of Walter the elder and the great-great grandfather of Walter the younger (who laid out and built Bagenalstown) was the first of the Bagenal family to come to Carlow and was engaged in a long-running feud with the Kavanaghs of Borris, who were original owners of the lands. Dudley's father, Sir Nicholas Bagenal (c. 1590), was an English adventurer from Newcastle upon Lyme who fled England after killing a man in a brawl in 1539 to became a mercenary for the O'Neills of Ulster. He was pardoned by Henry VIII, who granted him lands in Newry, Co. Down, and created him Marshal-General of the Army in Ireland from 1550 to 1553, a post he held again under both Mary I and Elizabeth.

Happy Birthday Holy Father!

On this day in 1927, Our Most Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, was born in Marktl, Bavaria.



HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOLY FATHER!