"The Story of This" - a new book by Andrew McNabb

Andrew McNabb sent me the following message which I am happy to publish here.

My name is Andrew McNabb. I am an American writer and the great grand nephew of the great Dominican priest, Fr. Vincent McNabb (d. 1942: prolific writer, lead speaker for the Catholic Evidence Guild at Hyde Park, Distributist and close friend of Chesterton and Belloc.) I am the author of a short story collection, The Body of This, that many are considering "Catholic" literature. Joseph Pearce, in his cover blurb, describes the book as “as radically transforming as viniculture, transforming the water of everyday experience into the wine of life.” In Standpoint Magazine (July/August,) Piers Paul Read referred to the book as “exquisite.” For more info about me and The Body of This, please visit http://www.andrew-mcnabb.com/

Helpers of God's Precious Infants Christmas 2009 Newsletter

As you may know, I occasionally join in prayers outside the Marie Stopes abortion facility at Maidstone. This and other prayer vigils are organised by valiant lay people who style themselves the Helpers of God's Precious Ifants. Our next at Maidstone is on February 18th:
Helpers of God's Precious Infants Maidstone 18th February 2010

Here is their Christmas 2009 Newsletter, published with permission.
Helpers of God's Precious Infants Christmas 2009 Newsletter

Bob Hope on Zombies and Democrats

Laughing out loud thanks to Gemoftheocean.

Christmas Sanctuary

Parishioner Maureen Auchterlonie took this photograph on New Years Day before the Extraordinary Form Mass at 10am. She was showing it to us on her camera after Bible Study this evening. Notice the new altar super-frontal with the Lamb of God - it really looks splendid, the work of another parishioner Catarina Beresford.

There was a very nice atmosphere at that Mass - a number of Sri Lankan families were present and all were very happy and joyful. Fewer people attended the mid-day Ordinary Form Mass than the 10am Extraordinary Form.

Attendance at New Year's Day was quite poor. In the USA it's a Holyday of Obligation.

Wintershall Nativity Play

A bit late, but on the Monday before Christmas a group of parishioners travelled to the Wintershall Estate for their famous Nativity Play. Here are some photos, generally without captions as you should be able to make out the scenes.

Some of the scene might seem out of order but dramatic licence was used to flashback etc and include many aspects of the Nativity story in a very effective manner. There were also some lovely musical items (e.g. Ave Maria).

It's a very moving production and an excellent way to prepare for Christmas. So check it out next year.

The shepherds explain to the children in the audience the scene they have witnessed.

The Annunciation

The Magi arrive.

St Michael appears and warns the Magi to return by a different way. Here the prayer to St Michael was said.

St Michael addresses Herod, who was suitably consigned to the fires of hell through the back of the stage.

The Totalitarianism of Abortion

Lifesitenews.com covers a homily given by Archbishop Carlos Osoro of Valencia, Spain, on the feast of the Holy Innocents. The state-sponsored practice of abortion is the greatest crime of nations throughout the world, led by the nations of Europe. How can the human species ever hope to live at peace amongst its members when it disregards its most vulnerable and innocent, when it seeks to kill its own members for no other reason than that they are inconvenient?

According to the Spanish newspaper ABC, Osoro also denounced western nations where "we fill our mouths with talk of human rights and where the most is being done to prevent the construction of peace and reconciliation."

"Reconciliation will never arrive while human life is not respected from its beginning until its natural end," added Osoro, who noted that the situation is similar to "what was experienced in Europe in previous times," comparing the current abortionist regimes to the totalitarianism of the 20th century.

"In questioning life, liberty in itself is brought into question, and the most profound injustice that can exist is established, which is to take away the life of the most defenseless," said Osoro.

Osoro's comments were made as Spain moves towards the legalization of abortion on demand. Legislation recently passed by the Spanish Chamber of Deputies (the lower legislative house) will allow women to freely choose death for their children during the first fourteen weeks of pregnancy, and will mandate pro-abortion education throughout the country.

Lifesitenews comments:

As a result of widespread abortion and contraception, Spain's families have an average of about 1.3 children, and the country is experiencing strong immigration pressures from Africa and Latin America.

Of course, it's not very politically correct to speak about 'immigration pressures', but we have to acknowledge that as we kill our own unborn and refuse to procreate at a sufficient level, well, immigration 'pressures' are a consequence.

Is immigration in itself a bad thing? No, of course not, where there is a need for people to move from one part of the world to another to seek freedom from persecution, reasonble standards of living, etc. The native culture should be able and willing to welcome such migrants. As a son of Irish immigrants I am glad that immigration was and is possible and I rejoice at the cultural diversity of my parish congregation.

But we must accept the consequences of not replacing our own population and killing those who could enter our societies as active contributors before they are born. Our native cultures will die and the world will be all the poorer for that, not to mention the moral consequence of the terrible sin involved. Immigration combined with a re-population of the native culture would provide for a healthy and enriching mix of cultures. And as Christians, we would rejoice in experiencing the catholicity of the Church in our own lands and the opportunity to bear witness to our Christian faith to those of other cultures and religions who would come.

It is long overdue that the Church should promote life and seek to encourage married couples to have more children and to support them in doing so, and working to promote an economic environment where it is no longer necessary for both parents to work. This would be a great project for the Archdiocesan Commission for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation.

See also John Smeaton's blog post: UK was morally powerless to stop Akmal Shaikhs' execution in China

Mgr Graham Leonard - May he rest in peace

The former Bishop of London who converted to the Catholic Church and was ordained a Catholic priest on 23rd April 1994 has died.

At the time of writing, the only websites carrying the news appear to be:

Damian Thompson:

I’ve just heard that Mgr Graham Leonard, the former Bishop of London who became a Catholic and was made a (married) Monsignor by Pope John Paul II, has died.

Mgr Leonard, 88, was a formidable and dignified champion of the Anglo-Catholic cause in the Church of England; when he converted to Catholicism after the vote to ordain women priests, he was ordained priest conditionally, having persuaded the Vatican that he might already possess valid orders by virtue of an Old Catholic apostolic succession.

Mgr Leonard had originally hoped that he could bring with him Anglican priests and faithful who could worship together after their reception; as it turned out, the time was not yet ripe. But it is now. The Ordinariate scheme, currently taking shape, will be a fitting memorial to this inspiring priest.

Ruth Gledhill:

Monsignor Graham Leonard, former Bishop of London who converted to Catholicism and became a Catholic priest, has died. He was such a great man, a great Bishop of London, a true Catholic priest. We had fun, those of us on the religion beat when he was not just in the news, but making it. The London diocese has a statement. Apologies for the brevity of this blog, more soon.

Here is the (Anglican) diocese of London's statement:

The Bishop of London has issued a statement on the death of Monsignor Graham Leonard.

"As Bishop of Willesden and then after a spell in Cornwall, as Bishop of London for ten years, Graham Leonard served the Diocese with faithfulness and a particular care for its large number of Church Schools.

"He will be mourned by his many friends and colleagues and our hearts go out in sympathy to Priscilla who played such a significant part in Bishop Graham's London ministry".

I'm sure our Miles Iesu (of which Mgr Leonard was a member) blogger will have a tribute to him in due course.

UPDATE: See Father Dwight Longenecker, Father Sean Finegan, Diocese of Westminster.