Zephyrinus Goes To "The Prettiest Theatre In The Kingdom", Whilst Staying With Friends.

Zephyrinus and friends go to the Theatre.

Illustration: HISTORICAL EMPORIUM

The Grand Theatre, Blackpool, England.

Acknowledged to be The Prettiest Theatre in The Kingdom.

Illustration: PINTEREST

The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia.

The Grand was designed by Victorian Theatre Architect Frank Matcham and was opened in 1894, after a construction period of seven months, at a cost of £20,000, between December 1893

and July 1894.

The project was conceived and financed by local Theatre Manager Thomas Sergenson, who had been using the site of The Grand for several years to stage a Circus. He had also transformed the fortunes of other local Theatres.

Matcham's brief was to build Sergenson "The Prettiest Theatre In The Land". The Grand was Matcham's first Theatre to use an innovative '"Cantilever" design to support the Tiers, thereby reducing the need for the usual Pillars, and so allowing clear views of The Stage from all parts of The Auditorium.

Sergenson's successful Directorship of The Theatre ended in 1909, when he sold the operation to

The Blackpool Tower Company for a considerable profit.

The success of The Grand continued through World War I and on until the 1930s. The Theatre now faced stiff competition from the newly-introduced "Talking Pictures" and the building was operated as a Cinema outside the Summer Tourist Season. This practice continued until 1938 when the nearby Opera House was constructed.

The Grand was able to stay open during World War II, but the Post-War rise in the popularity of Television was probably the cause of the Theatre's dwindling popularity toward the 1960s. The Theatre's programme archives show that, from 1964, The Grand was a Summer Seasonal Venue.

Plans were filed for the demolition of the historic site in 1972, but The Grand had become a

Grade II* Listed Building earlier in the year, thanks to the initiative of Jeffrey Finestone, a member of The Victorian Society. This enabled a group of Theatre Friends to successfully oppose any redevelopment.

The Theatre was unused for three years before an agreement was reached with The Grand's owners, EMI, that a refurbishment of the then unused building would take place if it could be used as a Bingo Hall.

After three years of Bingo use, the group of Friends, now called The Friends of The Grand, with the support of Blackpool Borough Council, negotiated to Lease, and eventually Buy, the Theatre back from EMI over a period of a few years.

The purchase was complete by 1 October 1980 and a refurbishment, achieved partly through voluntary effort, was begun. Finally, on 23 March 1981, The Grand re-opened as a Theatre once again to stage an Old Vic performance of William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, featuring Timothy West and Prunella Scales. The Theatre's return was further confirmed in May of the same year when a Royal Variety Performance was staged in the presence of Charles, Prince of Wales.

The Grand Theatre, Blackpool, England, as it is, today.

Photo: 4 March 2009.

Source: Flickr

Author: Tony Hisgett

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Theatre saw its Centenary in 1994, and a Restoration Project was begun in the 1990s that was completed in 2007 after fifteen years of work and about £3 million of investment.

In 2006, The Grand was named The United Kingdom's National Theatre of Variety. The Title was awarded nationally by Equity who staged an All-Star Gala Performance to celebrate the Theatre's new accolade.

The Friends of The Grand support The Grand Theatre and its programme of events. Formed in 1973, to save the building from demolition, the first Friends were literally "Hands-On". They painted the Dressing Rooms, repaired holes to the Ceiling and helped to get the Theatre into shape.

The interior of The Grand Theatre, Blackpool, England.

Photo: 10 January 2013.

Source: Own work.

Author: Mdbeckwith

(Wikimedia Commons)

Funds were raised in many ways, including Midnight Matinées; all part of the bid to save the Theatre. Early Friends included Violet Carson, Alistair Cooke, Ken Dodd, Leslie Crowther, Timothy West, Prunella Scales, Billy Pearce and Johnnie Casson.

The role of The Friends of The Grand has changed over the years. They now raise funds from subscriptions and social events to finance projects within the Theatre, primarily aimed at enhancing the comfort of the patrons. The Friends have contributed in excess of £750,800 towards projects including the provision of new Carpets, Seating and Technical Equipment. By Autumn 2008, The Friends had contributed almost £250,000 to The Sam Lee Appeal to improve the amenities and to renovate the Theatre Interior.

The Friends are also The Founding Angel of The National Theatre of Variety.

Autumn Ember Days This Week.

The following Text is from THE MISSIVE

On Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, this week,

we Commemorate the Autumn Ember Days.

The Ember Days take place four times a year, 

near the commencement of the four Seasons: 

On the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 

following Ash Wednesday, and on the same

days following Pentecost, The Feast of The Exaltation

of The Holy Cross, on 14 September,

and The Feast of Saint Lucy, on 13 December.

Observed at Rome, at least as far back

as the 3rd-Century A.D., the practice of The Ember Days aims to offer thanks to God for the gifts of Creation,

to ask for His Grace in using them in moderation,

and to assist the needy.

The Ember Days consist of Prayer, along with Fasting and Abstinence, or other forms of Penance.
The September Ember Days come at a fortuitous time, when a great deal of Reparation and Penance
are necessary to remedy the ills in The Church.

Moreover, The Ember Days were often a time 
during which Ordinations took place, so they are
a good occasion to Pray for Priests.

Although all Penances and extra Prayers on
The Ember Days are voluntary, let us join in, as 
we are able, and Pray for The Church and her Ministers.

Convertére, Dómine, aliquántulum, et deprecáre super servos tuos. Dómine, refúgium factus es nobis, a generatiónes et progénie.

Return, O Lord, a little, and be entreated
in favour of Thy servants. Lord, Thou hast been
our refuge, from generation to generation.

– The Gradual on Ember Friday and after
The Third Lesson on Ember Saturday.

Saint Joseph Of Cupertino. Confessor. Feast Day, Today, 18 September.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless stated otherwise.

Saint Joseph of Cupertino.
   Confessor.
   Feast Day 18 September.

Double.

White Vestments.

English: Saint Joseph of Cupertino is lifted in flight at the sight of The Basilica of Loreto,

Italiano: S. Giuseppe da Copertino si eleva in volo alla vista della Basilica di Loreto.

Artist: Ludovico Mazzanti (1686-1775).

Date: 18th-Century.

Current location: Church of Saint Joseph of Cupertino, Osimo, Italy.

Source/Photographer:

http://www.turismosi.it/writable/risorse/santuario_san_giuseppe_da_copertino_osimo2ny.jpg

(Wikimedia Commons)

A humble son of Saint Francis, whose Stigmata we Commemorated yesterday, Saint Joseph also glorifies The Cross of Jesus, which The Liturgy exalted, recently, on 14 September (The Exaltation of The Holy Cross).

Like the Seraphic Patriarch, he strove to remain attached to The Cross by absolute Poverty, heroic Obedience, and Virginal Purity.

Such was his spirit of sacrifice and Prayer, that he accepted with Holy Patience and great serenity to be misunderstood and calumniated (Offertory). Wherefore, God, Who exalts the humble, caused him to pass from the rank of Brother to that of Clerk and to be made a Priest.

He wrought such Miracles that he implored Heaven to withdraw from him the remarkable powers with which he was endowed. He died a Holy Death at Osimo, Italy, in 1663.

Mass: Diléctio Dei.
Gospel: Loquebátur Jesus.

The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia.

Joseph of Cupertino, O.F.M. Conv. (Italian: Giuseppe da Copertino) (17 June 1603 – 18 September 1663) was an Italian Conventual Franciscan Friar who is honoured as a Christian Mystic and Saint. He was said to be prone to miraculous levitation and intense ecstatic visions that left him gaping.

English: The Nave of the Basilica Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, Venice, Italy.

Altarpiece: The Miracle of Saint Joseph of Cupertino.

Français: La partie droite de la nef de la Basilique Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari.

Tableau du retable : Le miracle de Joseph de Cupertinopar Giuseppe Nogari.

Italiano: Il lato destro della navata della Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari.

Pala d'altare: Il miracolo di Giuseppe da Copertino daGiuseppe Nogari.

Artist: Giuseppe Nogari. Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari.

Giuseppe Nogari (1699–1766).

Photo: 30 May 2016.

Source: Own work.Author: Didier Descouens.

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Impression Of The Stigmata of Saint Francis. Confessor. Feast Day 17 September.

English: Saint Francis of Assisi.

Polski: Św. Franciszek z Asyżu.

Artist: Cigoli (1559–1613).

Date: 1597-1599.

Current location: Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Source: Web Gallery of Art:

(Wikimedia Commons)

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless stated otherwise.

The Impression of The Stigmata of Saint Francis.
   Confessor.
   Feast Day 17 September.

Double.

White Vestments.

Two years before his death, Saint Francis retired to Mount Alverno, Italy, where he began a Fast of Forty Days in honour of Saint Michael The Archangel. And lo ! In the midst of his Meditations, he saw a figure, like a Seraphim, with six wings dazzling and burning, whose feet and hands were nailed to a Cross.

Aware that suffering is incompatible with the immortality of a Seraphic Spirit, he understood this to mean that he would become more like Jesus and bear his Cross after Him (Gospel), not by physical Martyrdom, but by a Mystical kindling of Divine Love.

English: Basilica of Saint Francis, Assisi, Italy.

Français: La Basilique Saint-François d'Assise.

Photo: 7 March 2009.

Source: Own work.

Author: Berthold Werner.

(Wikimedia Commons)

And, in order that this Crucified Love might become an example to us all, five wounds, resembling those of Jesus on The Cross, appeared on his feet, hands, and side. From his side, blood flowed abundantly.

The facts were so fully authenticated, later, that Pope Benedict XI ordered them to be Commemorated every year, and Pope Paul V, to kindle in The Faithful The Love of Jesus Crucified, extended The Feast to the whole Church.

Mass: As on The Feast Day of Saint Francis of Assisi on 4 October,

   except Proper Collects and Gospel.
Gospel: Si quis vult.

Saints Euphemia, Lucy, And Geminianus. Martyrs. Feast Day 16 September.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless stated otherwise.

Saints Euphemia, Lucy, And Geminianus.
   Martyrs.
   Feast Day 16 September.

Simple.

Red Vestments.

"At Chalcedon," says The Roman Martyrology, "the birth in Heaven of Saint Euphemia, Virgin and Martyr, who was condemned to the wild beasts." This happened in 307 A.D.

"At Rome, The Holy Martyrs Lucy, a noble lady, and Geminianus, who were beheaded by order of Emperor Diocletian, about 300 A.D.

Mass: Intret. Of several Martyrs.

Saint Cornelius And Saint Cyprian. Bishops And Martyrs. Feast Day 16 September.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.

Saint Cornelius And Saint Cyprian.
   Bishops And Martyrs.
   Feast Day 16 September.

Semi-Double.

Red Vestments.

English: Saint Cornelius. Pope and Martyr.

Deutsch: Ausstattung der ehemaligen Seitenaltäre der Meßkircher

St. Martinskirche, 

Standflügel: Heiliger Cornelius als Papst und Märtyrer.

Artist: Meister von Meßkirch (1500–1543).

Date: 1535-1540.

Current location: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, Germany.

Source/Photographer: Eingescannt aus: Anna Moraht-Fromm und Hans Westhoff:Der Meister von Meßkirch – Forschungen zur südwestdeutschen Malerei des 16. Jahrhunderts, Ulm, 1997, S. 190.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Cornelius was a Roman and was Sovereign Pontiff under the Emperors Gallus and Volusian. He had to oppose Novatian, the first Anti-Pope. He took from the Catacomb of Saint Sebastian, where they had rested some forty years, the bodies of the Apostles Peter and Paul and Translated them to the places where they had suffered Martyrdom.

He was arrested by order of the Emperors and beheaded in 253 A.D.

English: Saint Cyprian. Bishop and Martyr.

Deutsch: Ausstattung der ehemaligen Seitenaltäre der Meßkircher

St. Martinskirche, Standflügel:als Bischof und Märtyrer.

Artist: Meister von Meßkirch (1500–1543).

Date: 1535-1540.

Current location: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, Germany.

Source/Photographer: Eingescannt aus: Anna Moraht-Fromm und Hans Westhoff: Der Meister

von Meßkirch – Forschungen zur südwestdeutschen Malerei des 16. Jahrhunderts, Ulm, 1997, S. 190.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Cyprian was a Barrister at Carthage, when he was converted to Christianity. A short time afterwards, he was Ordained a Priest and became Bishop of Carthage. "It would be superfluous," says Saint Jerome, "to speak of his genius, since his works are more brilliant than the Sun."

This illustrious Father of The Latin Church lived in one of the most troublous periods for The Church in Africa. He was Martyred five years after Saint Cornelius on the day when this Holy Pope's remains were Translated to Rome. That explains why their names are united by The Liturgy of The Canon of The Mass (First List).

Mass: Intret. Of several Martyrs.
Commemoration of The Holy Martyrs: Saints Euphemia, Lucy, and Geminianus.

The Home Secretary Has Rejected Demands For Abortion Clinic Buffer Zones. The Little Ones Will Say "Deo Gratias".

This Article is taken from, and can be read in full at, 

SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF UNBORN CHILDREN

Dear SPUC Supporter, 

On 13 September 2018, the Home Secretary made
his long-awaited announcement on buffer zones. 

He said that it would ‘not be a proportionate response’ to introduce national buffer zones. 

I’m sure you will agree with me that this is

a massive victory for common sense, democracy,

and, above all, for the hundreds of vulnerable women who are saved from the horror of abortion

at the very gates of the abortion clinic.

Throughout our campaign to protect Pro-Life Vigils, our thoughts have always been for the mothers who need help, even as they are walking into the abortion clinic, and for the many babies and children alive today because of an encounter with a loving Pro-Life Citizen.

Thank You.