My Twitter byline is Thank you, forgive me, help me more. My friend @gerdoodally pointed me to it. This is the source

Dear brother,

The beatification of the Servant of God Álvaro del Portillo, faithful collaborator of St Josemaría Escrivá and his first successor at the head of Opus Dei, is a moment of special joy for all the faithful of the Prelature, and also for you, who were for so long a witness of his love for God and others, and his fidelity to the Church and to his vocation. I too wish to unite myself to your joy and to thank God, who embellishes the face of the Church with the holiness of her children.

His beatification will take place in Madrid, the city where he was born and spent his childhood and youth. Here his life began to take shape in the simplicity of family life, through friendship and service to others, as when he went to outlying districts to help provide human and Christian formation to so many people in need. And in this city, above all, there took place the event that definitively marked the course of his life: his meeting with St Josemaría Escrivá, from whom he learned to fall more in love with Christ every day. Yes, to fall in love with Christ. This is the path to holiness that every Christian has to follow: to let ourselves be loved by the Lord, to open up our hearts to his love, and to allow him to be the one who guides our lives.

I like to recall the aspiration that the Servant of God would often repeat, especially for personal celebrations and anniversaries: “Thank you; forgive me; help me more!” These words bring us closer to the reality of his interior life and his relationship with the Lord, and can also help to give a new impulse to our own Christian life.

In the first place, Thank you. This is the soul’s immediate, spontaneous reaction on experiencing God’s goodness. It cannot be otherwise. He always goes ahead of us. However hard we try, his love always gets there first, touches and caresses us first, He beats us to it. Álvaro del Portillo was aware of the many gifts God had given him, and thanked God for that manifestation of his fatherly love. But he did not stop at that: his recognition of Our Lord’s love awakened in his heart desires to follow him with greater commitment and generosity, and to lead a life of humble service to others. Especially outstanding was his love for the Church, the Spouse of Christ, whom he served with a heart devoid of worldly self-interest, far from discord, welcoming towards everyone and always seeking in others what was positive, what united, what was constructive. He never spoke a word of complaint or criticism, even at especially difficult times, but instead, as he had learned from St Josemaría, he always responded with prayer, forgiveness, understanding and sincere charity.

Forgive me. He often confessed that he saw himself empty-handed before God, incapable of responding to so much generosity. But to admit our poverty as human beings is not the result of despair but confident abandonment in God who is our Father. It means opening ourselves to his mercy, his love, which is able to regenerate our life. His love does not humiliate us, nor cast us into the depths of guilt, but embraces us, lifts us up from our prostration and enables us to go forward with more determination and joy. The Servant of God Álvaro knew the need we have of God’s mercy, and devoted a lot of his own energy to encouraging the people he met to go to the sacrament of Confession, the sacrament of joy. How important it is to feel the tenderness of God’s love, and discover that there is still time to love!

Help me more. Yes, the Lord never abandons us, he is always at our side, he journeys with us, and every day he expects new love from us. His grace will not fail us, and with his help we can take his name to the whole world. The heart of the new Blessed beat with the desire to bring the Good News to all hearts. And so he travelled to many countries to foster new projects for evangelization, undeterred by difficulties, moved by his love for God and his brethren. One who is very immersed in God is able to be very close to other people. The first condition for announcing Christ to them is to love them, because Christ loves them before we do. We have to leave behind our selfish concerns and love of comfort, and go out to meet our brothers and sisters. That is where Our Lord is awaiting us. We cannot keep our faith to ourselves: it is a gift we have received to give away and share with others.

Thank you, forgive me, help me! These words express the thrust of a life that is centered on God. It is the life of someone who has been touched by the greatest Love and who lives totally on that love; someone who, while experiencing their own human weakness and limitations, trusts in God’s mercy and wants all mankind, their brothers and sisters, to experience it too.

Dear brother, Blessed Álvaro del Portillo is sending us a very clear message. He is telling us to trust in the Lord, that he is our brother, our friend, who never lets us down and is always at our side. He is encouraging us not to be afraid to go against the current and suffer for announcing the Gospel. He is also teaching us that in the simplicity and ordinariness of our daily lives we can find a sure path to holiness.

I ask all the faithful of the Prelature, priests and lay-people, as well as all those who take part in its activities, to please pray for me. At the same time, I give them all my Apostolic Blessing.
May Jesus bless you, and may the Holy Virgin watch over you.

Fraternally,

Franciscus

I have been to Mass three times today.  The first one was a standard* weekday Mass at 8.10am.  It lasted about 25-30 minutes in the school chapel, one reader, one altar server, no homily.

The second one was a funeral Mass, three hours later.  The lady who the Mass was for was Tamil.  Two priests who were friends of the family were there, one presided the other preached.

Apart from the first reading and the bidding prayers the whole Mass was in Tamil, even the hymns.  Understanding this I chose not to deacon, and I think the priests were happier with that.  Mass was in the ordinary form, so I knew where I was and what was going on at any given time.

The third Mass was a Missa Cantata for the Epiphany at 7pm this evening.  There were in fact only two singers, but my word they did a good job.  Three Masses, three styles, two forms.  Did I feel any of the masses gave me more than the other?  The answer is no.

I was grateful that I had been able to be at the funeral Mass to offer support to the family, getting back in the car afterwards, I reflected on this.  The fact the Mass was said in a language I have absolutely no knowledge of  did not detract from it in any way, rather like going to Mass when you are on holiday and you’ve taken the opportunity to know what readings will be used.  It was still Mass.

Walking home this evening (yes, I walked from home to an EF Mass, read it and weep bubbas) it struck me how lucky I was that this was the case.  I know of people who hate specific types of Mass and would avoid them like the plague, perhaps being a little unkind about those who do not share their sensitivities, but for me, I was happy with each style.

This does not mean you can throw any old rubbish at me in a liturgy, I don’t want dancing, I don’t want things being acted out, I don’t want extended congregational participation in the homily.  But some do, I have to accept that, I am ordained to serve everyone, not just the ones who like the same things as me.

The main thing that has been driven home to me today is summed up in the words of a priest in the early 70s who I recall counselling people upset by the Vatican II changes, “The Mass is the Mass is the Mass”.

*No doubt I’ll be told off for calling any Mass standard, forgive my lack of eloquence.

Last night the revolting and unkind ‘bruvvereccles’ took an utter unnecessary swipe at Bernadette Farrell for writing this, which was published in The Tablet: –

http://www.thetablet.co.uk/blogs/1/158/0/it-s-not-the-composer-s-place-to-denigrate-worship-styles#.VHjk6I6qRbA.twitter

For those of you not familiar with Bernadette’s work she is primarily known for her hymn writing. Her composition Christ Be Our Light was the entrance hymn at my ordination, chosen mainly because of the final line “let us be servants to one another making your kingdom come”. Quite the opposite of the ‘lets try and exclude those that don’t like the same things as us’ attitude displayed by bruvvereccles and his fangirl toadies. (opps! now I’ve done it, my bad)

Bernie was also instrumental in starting http://www.citizensuk.org/ well, I say instrumental, it was her idea and her energy that has now helped thousands upon thousands of people. As South London Citizens (in the early days) Citizens helped establish the concept of the living wage as opposed to the minimum wage.

Her work for peace with Margaret and Barry Mizen has been breathtaking. Bernie was there with the Mizens when the raw acute pain of losing Jimmy was under a worldwide spotlight. I’d bet my spectacles none of the EFTs have done any such work.

Yesterday’s swipe is made all the more odious when one considers the recent dreadful personal health issues Bernie, and her husband Owen have had to endure, just about as bad as it gets for the parent of any teenager. But of course this would not stop bruvvereccles.

Bernadette Farrell has made life and liturgy better for others, she continued to do this while facing something no one should face.

bruvvereccles is a bitter and twisted old neverwas (other than a has been) and that bitterness shows in almost every tweet. In his Nicomachean Ethic, Aristotle tells us one can be judged by the company one keeps. I will take this entirely on board. Any EFTs are no longer my friends, like a bishop asks at an ordination, they are not considered worthy.

Three weeks ago I chronicled my busy month. I had no idea at the time what would emerge. Forgive the whinge but I am writing this with a real sense of self pity and mourning. While the plan was for me to be at a diaconate formation day followed by deaconing a Confirmation Mass, things have changed.

A new event was announced and the school whose choir I sing with will be opening the Towards Advent festival at Westminster Cathedral Hall on St Cecilia’s Day, alas I cannot attend, one must go where your ordinary sends you, but I feel I am missing out somewhat.

There is a further sadness about Saturday as it would have been my Brother Mike’s birthday, we lost him in June. This very time we are in right now is a sad one for my family with the anniversary of mum’s death on 19th, it would have been my brother John’s birthday on 20th, and as I said, Mike’s on 22nd. Also I won’t be deaconing the Confirmation Mass now, I’m going to be a sponsor, but that’s not a sadness.

But my sadness is nothing compared to the fourth baby death in our parish in 11 months. Two of them to one mother who suffered a cot death in December and a stillbirth in August. How can I complain when there are three ladies mourning for their children, children who they held, loved and will never forget the face of, the feel of and the smell of their hair.

If you started reading this, gentle reader, and thought ‘I’ll offer a prayer for him, well there’s three families that are so much more worthy of prayers than this moany old goat. Please pray for them, and continue to do so.

Thank you

Stupid boy!

I was telling someone who’d had as interesting time as I have on social media how I used blogging to defend myself. She thought it was a good idea, in showing her how to do it I treated myself, ironically, to the title “ubertechie”. I showed her how to post pictures and also showed how you can copy and paste easily as anything else.

Then I posted it to show her, and the bell went at school, I had to be elsewhere and didn’t delete it straight away like I meant to.

An hour ago I received a text about said post and then remembered I hadn’t deleted it. I have now.

If I had meant to post it there would have been two postings on Twitter. If you thought I had reached the stage where I needed chasing by two big lads and a net, you can hold them off a while, I have work to do.

Sorry.

Last November I wrote a blog post called Diary of a Nutcase where I log a very busy two weeks. Well it seems to be a November thing.

Back to school tomorrow we have All Saints Day Mass for Year Seven, Tuesday sees a rehearsal for the annual Service of Remembrance. Wednesday sees Sixth Form Open Evening at one school, as does the same thing happen at the other school the following evening. From there I will go on to the parish Baptism lessons.

Next weekend I am away with the student deacons, the following Tuesday is when the Service of Remembrance takes place. In the evening I am joining the staff choir singing at a First World War memorial concert. Thursday will be Awards Night at school. On the Friday I have a liturgy group meeting, which I must attend rather than singing again with the staff choir. The weekend, being the third of the month is deacon’s preaching weekend in our parish, so I must gen up on perfect wives and not hiding our talents.

The following week is easier but still with it’s clashes. Thursday will be Baptism lessons again. Friday I am hosting a quiz night at school. I have been invited that evening to a former Anglican clergyman’s transitory diaconate ordination. He completed a special course at Wonersh just a few months ago and I would love to be there to welcome him, but when I agreed to do the quiz night he was still studying. I might pop in for a sherry if the reception is still happening when we have finished quizzing.

Saturday is a diaconate formation day and I am deaconing a Confirmation Mass in the evening.

While this does all look very busy, and will feel it when there is something else to fit in, something domestic like worming the cat or getting the boiler fixed I am very blessed that I can consider myself blessed to be able to do these things. I am fit, healthy and loved. We can all get ourselves wrapped up in our own small world when things don’t go our way (mea maxima culpa) but as I will have the privilege of preaching on, God gives us talents and abilities and it’s our duty, no matter how small and mundane they are (hello!) to use them.

Today’s gospel tells us we should love thy neighbour as we love ourselves. What does that mean? We have to look at how we love ourselves as opposed to how we love those close to us. We either love our loved ones in an emotional or romantic way, or perhaps both. Is that what Christ meant? We know it’s not.

The way to love our neighbour is to want the best for them. I heard these words at Mass today in a parish in the diocese of Arundel and Brighton. I found it interesting to hear them there where most of the people on the Arundel and Brighton omnibus want nothing but to move on from their news of last month when Bishop Conry resigned. What they want is the best for him, and the best for themselves too

Interestingly, some people,people who identify themselves as ‘orthodox’ are still happily banging on about the whole sorry business. such people can be quite quite draining, but we must love them too, and in hoping for the best outcome for Bishop Conry, we will wish for the best outcome for them as well.

I would post this even if it wasn’t my birthday in the coming week.

30 October is mine, the anons (among others) will foam at the mouth.

…heard Joanna Bogle speak, put in on your bucket list.

Joanna came into school today to speak to Faith Club, her topic was St John Paul the Great and I defy anyone to know the great saint anywhere near as well as Joanna does.

The boys, most of whom were in Year Seven sat enthralled. We know they were listening as they laughed at the right times and put their hands up to ask questions all the way through.

There were questions and comments from the lads after and then we all repaired to the Sixth Form Centre for tea and toast (Tea-toast-Holy Ghost is an old Faith Club motto, thank you Ger) I could not stay afterwards as, like Joanna, we celebrate a family birthday today, but unlike Joanna, I was the chef.

Joanna was a joy, the lads were a joy and I cannot recommend highly enough that you make time to hear her speak with such joy on the great man that was John Paul II

The boys being ‘Bogled’ and loving it

I had an interesting discussion yesterday with some fellow clergy on how we represent ourselves on social media.  I was the first to put my hand up and admit I have stuffed up in the past, however my brethren were very generous to me, pointing out I had done my best to make amends.

I shared with them that I had written to the then Mgr Marcus Stock about how we have represented ourselves via the internet.  Some of the chaps were fascinated and wanted to see the letter (I think there was a tad of disbelief) but coming home with me and seeing the letter, which bizarrely was a year old on Friday, satisfied the need.

As we chaps talked at length about representing ourselves a recurring theme emerged, that of the online company one keeps.  Two types of undesirable characters became recurring themes; the anons and the murmurers.  There were others that were spoken of, such as the clergy who feel it appropriate to knock members of the hierarchy and the ones who tell us how marvellous they are, telling us how busy their day is and by insinuation attempting to prove their popularity.

We also spoke of how silence can be seen as accord.  If any of my friends, no matter how close I am to them, wrote a piece paralleling the behaviour of my ordinary with that of one of his colleagues who had had to resign I would have to publicly disassociate with them, otherwise I would be seen as being duplicitous in the writing. Why anyone would not do so was beyond some of the chaps, until we pointed out any such article would most likely have been seen and approved beforehand.

By the same token, if an anon made constant, frequent unpleasant comments about someone, I would disassociate with them.  In fact I have done. But when someone whom one is meant to look up to continues to associate with such people, they give the anons a false credibility.  What appears to not be understood by any clergy who do this is by giving these essentially unpleasant characters credibility, they lose their own.  Two particular cases were spoken of in considerable detail.

The clergy are ordained to serve everyone who comes into our path, we are not ordained for ourselves, we are ordained to serve the people.  I was reminded frequently yesterday afternoon (even with just a glance at times) we are to set an example.

Aristotle said “The virtuous man has virtuous friends”.  The interesting situation we could find ourselves in is when we come face to face with those who might be upset by the poor company we keep or the sly attempts at deriding others (this happens too)  I wonder if the lack of bravery evident in the anons will be evident in the clergy of whom we spoke.