The Traditional Mass At Magdalen College, Oxford. Magnificent !!!

Text and Illustrations: LMS CHAIRMAN

Traditional Mass At Magdalen College, Oxford.

The Resonantia Consort were the Schola at a Missa Cantata 

in the Chapel of Magdelen College, Oxford, Celebrated by 

Fr. Daniel Lloyd of The Ordinariate, who is Parish Priest 

of the nearby Parish of South Hinksey.

The Schola sang “Missa Christi Virgo Dilectissima”, by Nicholas Ludford, a a very rare surviving Mass Setting from before The Reformation, written specifically for The Annunciation, and “Nesciens Mater”, by Walter Lambe.

The organisers would like to thank the Dean, the 

Rev. Andrew Bowyer, who gave permission for this Mass. 

It was supported by The Latin Mass Society.

The Mass was very impressive. 

In 2008, The LMS Chairman organised a Requiem Mass 

in the same location for the birth of Cardinal Reginald Pole, 

an alumnus of the College.

The Article can be read in full, 

with more photographs, at 

LMS CHAIRMAN

Support the Latin Mass Society

Gregorian Chant From Fontgombault Abbey.

Gregorian Chant From Fontgombault Abbey.

Available on YouTube

HERE

“Stabat Mater” (The Sorrowful Mother Stood). Sung During The Stations Of The Cross.

“Stabat Mater”

(The Mother Stood).

Available on YouTube

HERE

Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia,
unless stated otherwise.

The Stabat Mater is a 13th-Century Christian Hymn to The Virgin Mary that portrays her suffering as Mother during the Crucifixion of her Son, Jesus Christ.

[Editor: A Verse of The Stabat Mater is sung after each Station of The Cross].

Its author may be either the Franciscan Friar, Jacopone da Todi, or, Pope Innocent III.[1][2][3] 

The Title comes from its first line, “Stabat Mater Dolorosa”, which means “The Sorrowful Mother Stood”.[4]

High Mass At Blackfen, Kent.

High Mass at Blackfen.

Solemn High Mass according to the Classical Roman Rite.

Celebrated at Our Lady of the Rosary, Blackfen, Kent, 

on 17 April 2007, the Feast of Saint Anicetus.

Available on YouTube

HERE

Chiesa Della Santissima Trinità Dei Pellegrini, Rome. Church Of The Most Holy Trinity Of The Pilgrims.

Altar of Repose.

Church Of The Most Holy Trinity Of The Pilgrims, Rome.

Chiesa della Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini, Roma.

Illustration: FR. Z’s BLOG

The High Altar at Easter, 2019.

Church Of The Most Holy Trinity Of The Pilgrims, Rome.

Chiesa della Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini, Roma.

Photo: 21 April 2019.

Source: Own work.

Author: L.J.Mazurek

(Wikimedia Commons)

A Homeless Tramp Was Accidentally Recorded Singing This Haunting Hymn. When People Overheard This Rendition, They Began Weeping. The Tramp Died Before He Could Be Told Of The Success Of The Recording.

“Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me, Yet”.

The Great Learning Orchestra.

Available on YouTube

HERE

“Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me, Yet”.

Gavin Bryars.

Please note in this version of the work, the 

ensemble join with the tape four minutes into the piece.

Available on YouTube

HERE

By: Gavin Bryars.

“In 1971, when I lived in London, I was working

with a friend, Alan Power, on a film about people 

living rough in the area around the Elephant and Castle,

and Waterloo Station, in London.

“In the course of being filmed, some people broke

into drunken songs - sometimes bits of opera, sometimes sentimental ballads. One, who did not drink, sang a Religious Hymn, entitled “Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me, Yet”. This Hymn was not ultimately used in the film and I was given all the unused sections of tape, which included this particular bit of singing by a tramp.

“I took the tape loop to Leicester, where I was working in The Fine Arts Department, and copied the loop onto a continuous reel of tape, thinking about perhaps adding an

orchestrated accompaniment to it.

“The door of the Recording Room opened onto one of

the large Painting Studios, nearby, and I left the tape copying onto the continuous reel of tape, while I went for a coffee.

“When I returned, I found the normally lively and

noisy room unnaturally subdued. People were moving about much more slowly than usual and a few were sitting alone, quietly weeping.

“I was puzzled, until I realised that the tape was still playing and that they had been overcome by the old man's singing. This convinced me of the emotional power of the music and of the possibilities offered by adding a simple orchestral accompaniment that respected the homeless man's nobility and simple Faith.

“The tramp died before he could hear what I had done with his singing. The piece remains as an eloquent, but understated, testimony to his spirit and optimism.

“All profits, from the ticket sales at this Concert, 

were given to an organisation to help homeless people.

“Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me, Yet”.

The Great Learning Orchestra.

Available on YouTube

HERE

“The Concert was sold out.

More than 700 people were in the audience”.

President Trump’s Message In Holy Week 2025.

Illustration:

IN CAELO ET IN TERRA

From the site of The White House.

Presidential Message on Holy Week 2025.

This Holy Week, Melania and I join in Prayer with 

Christians celebrating the Crucifixion and Resurrection 

of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ — the living Son of God who conquered death, freed us from sin, and unlocked 

the gates of Heaven for all of humanity.

Beginning with Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem 

on Palm Sunday and culminating in the Paschal Triduum, which begins on Holy Thursday with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, followed by Good Friday, and reaching its pinnacle 

in the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night. 

This week is a time of reflection for Christians to memorialise Jesus’ Crucifixion — and to prepare their hearts, minds, and souls, for His miraculous Resurrection from the dead.

During this Sacred Week, we acknowledge that the 

glory of Easter Sunday cannot come without the sacrifice Jesus Christ made on the Cross. 

In His final hours on Earth, Christ willingly endured excruciating pain, torture, and execution on the Cross 

out of a deep and abiding love for all His creation. 

Through His suffering, we have redemption. 

Through His death, we are forgiven of our sins. 

Through His Resurrection, we have hope of eternal life. 

On Easter morning, the stone is 

rolled away, the tomb is empty, and light prevails over darkness — signalling that death does not have the final word.

This Holy Week, my Administration renews its promise to defend the Christian Faith in our schools, military, workplaces, hospitals, and halls of government. 

We will never waver in safeguarding the right to 

religious liberty, upholding the dignity of life, 

and protecting God in our public square.

As we focus on Christ’s redeeming sacrifice, we look to 

His love, humility, and obedience — even in life’s most 

difficult and uncertain moments. 

This week, we pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our beloved Nation. We pray that America will remain a beacon of faith, hope, and freedom for the entire world, and we pray to achieve a future that reflects the truth, beauty, and goodness of Christ’s eternal kingdom in Heaven.

May God Bless you and your family during this 

special time of year and may He continue to Bless 

the United States of America.

Palm Sunday. The Lenten Station Is At The Papal Arch-Basilica Of Saint John Lateran. Violet Vestments.

Peterborough Cathedral.

© Chel@SweetbriarDreams

www.sweetbriardreams.blogspot.co.uk

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

Palm Sunday.

Station at Saint John Lateran.

Indulgence of 25 Years and 25 Quarantines.

Semi-Double.

Privileged Sunday of The First Class.

Violet Vestments.

English: Papal Arch-Basilica of Saint John Lateran

by Alessandro Galilei, 1735.

Latin: Archibasilica Sanctissimi Salvatoris et Sanctorum Iohannes Baptistæ et Evangelistae in Laterano Omnium

urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput.

Italiano: Facciata principale della Basilica di San 

Giovanni-in-Laterano, progettata da Alessandro Galilei.

Français: Façade principale de la basilique

Saint-Jean-de-Latran par Alessandro Galilei, 1735.

Photo: 2006/09/07.

Source: Own work.

Author: Jastrow

(Wikimedia Commons)

On Palm Sunday is reproduced The Triumphal Procession,

which accompanied Our Lord, when He entered Jerusalem.

Illustration: UNA VOCE OF ORANGE COUNTY

Artist: René de Cramer.

“Copyright Brunelmar/Ghent/Belgium”.

Used with Permission.

English: 

The Choir and Apse.

The Papal Arch-Basilica of Saint John Lateran.

Deutsch: 

Chorraum und Apsis von San Giovanni in Laterano.

Photo: September 2005.

Source: Own work.

Author: Stefan Bauer, http://www.ferras.at

(Wikimedia Commons)

In today’s Liturgy, the two-fold point of view, from which The Church regards The Cross, is expressed in two Ceremonies. One is marked with joy and the other by sadness.

First, comes The Blessing and Procession of Palms, in which everything overflows with a Holy Joy, which enables us, after two thousand years, to revive the spirit of the magnificent scene of Our Lord's Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.

Then follows The Mass, whose Chants and Lessons relate exclusively to the Sorrowful Memory of Our Redeemer’s Passion.

The Pope’s Chair.

Basilica di San Giovanni-in-Laterano.

Photo: October 2005.

Source: Flickr

Author: Ern

Reviewer: Mac9

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Blessing and Procession of Palms.

At Jerusalem, in the 4th-Century A.D., on the very spot where the event took place, was read the Gospel narrative in which we see Christ hailed as King of Israel and taking possession of His Capital, Jerusalem, which is really no more than the type of Jerusalem, above.

After this, a Bishop, mounted on an ass, rode up to The Church of The Resurrection on the summit of The Mount of Olives, surrounded by a multitude carrying Palms and singing Anthems and Hymns. This Ceremony was preceded by The Solemn Reading of The Passage from Exodus, in which The Flight from Egypt is related.

English: The Papal Arch-Basilica of Saint John Lateran.

With its length of 400 feet, this Basilica ranks fifteenth

among the largest Churches in the World.

Français: Basilique Saint-Jean-de-Latran, Vatican, située à Rome. Avec sa longueur de 121,84 mètres, cette Basilique se classe au 15è rang parmi les plus grandes églises au monde.

Photo: September 2010.

Source: Own work.

Author: Tango7174

(Wikimedia Commons)

Papal Arch-Basilica of Saint John Lateran.

The Major Papal and Roman Arch-Basilica of The Most

Holy Saviour and Saint John the Baptist and Saint John The Evangelist-in-Lateran. Mother Church and Head of all Churches in Rome and in the World.

Photo: 21 April 2015.

Source: Own work.

Author: Livioandronico2013

(Wikimedia Commons)

God’s people, encamped under the shadow of the palm trees, near the twelve fountains where Moses promised them the Manna, is a type of the Christian people, who, breaking off branches from the trees, bear witness that God's Son, Jesus, comes to deliver Souls from sin, leading them to the Baptismal Font and nourishing them with the Manna of The Eucharist.

English: Saint Peter, by Pierre-Étienne Monnot.

Papal Arch-Basilica of Saint John Lateran, Rome.

Français: Saint Pierre, par Pierre-Étienne Monnot.

Basilique Saint-Jean-de-Latran (Rome).

Photo: 2006/09/07.

Source: Own work.

Author: Jastrow

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Church of Rome, it would seem, adopted this practice about the 9th-Century A.D. and added to it the Rite for The Blessing of The Palms, which has given to this Sunday the name of "The Easter of Flowers".

In this Benediction, The Church Prays for health of mind and body for those who dwell in houses where the Palms are preserved.

This Procession of Christians, who, with Palm in hand and cries of “Hosanna” on their lips, proclaim Christ's Kingship every year, throughout the whole World and in all generations, is composed of all Catechumens, of public penitents and of The Faithful. All of whom will be united at The Easter Feast to this Glorious Victor, through The Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Penance.

The Coffered Ceiling.

The Basilica of Saint John Lateran.

Photo: 27 July 2007.

Source: Own work.

Author: Dnalor 01

(Wikimedia Commons)

It is this that is represented by the Procession of Palms, when it stops at the door of the Church, into which some Members of the Choir have already found their way. They Chant, alternately with the Clergy; on the one side, “The Angelic Choir”, and, on the other, Christ’s Soldiers, still plunged in the strife of battle, hailing The King of Glory, each in his turn.

Soon, the door opens, after the Sub-Deacon has knocked on it three times with The Foot of The Cross, and The Procession enters the Church; so does The Cross of Christ open Heaven to us and so will The Elect, one day, enter with their Lord into Eternal Glory.

We should carefully keep a Blessed Palm in our home. It is a Sacramental, which will obtain for us Graces in virtue of The Church's Prayer and strengthen our Faith in Christ, Who, Full of Mercy, has conquered sin, death and the devil, in a victory of which these sacred Palms are the type.

Mass for Palm Sunday.

The Blessing of Palms takes place at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore), which, in Rome, represents Bethlehem, the birthplace of Him Whom The Magi hailed as “King of the Jews.” Thence, the Procession goes to Saint John Lateran, in which Church, in former times, the Lenten Station took place, since, by its dedication to Saint Saviour, it calls up memories of The Passion, which is the Subject of today’s Mass.

The Redeemer’s Triumph must be preceded by His Humiliation, “even to the Death of The Cross” (Epistle), which is to serve as a model for us, that, “instructed by His Patience”, we may “partake in His Resurrection”.

Every Parish Priest celebrates Mass for the people of his Parish.

Mass: Dómine, ne longe fácias.
Preface: Of The Holy Cross.

Our Lady Of The Atonement Cathedral,

Baguio, Philippines.

Photo: 29 March 2024.

Source: Own work.

This File is made available under the

Creative Commons CC0 1.0

Universal Public Domain Dedication.

Author: Galaxiaria

(Wikimedia Commons)

Wells Cathedral.

Photo: August 2006.

Source: Own work.

This File is licensed under the

Creative Commons Attribution-

Share Alike 3.0 Unported licence.

Author: Steinsky

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Wonderful 19th-Century Typographical Design Of A Cigarette Packet.

An old packet of Woodbine cigarettes, photographed 

at the Musée Somme 1916 of Albert (Somme), France.

Photo: 4 September 2013.

Source: Own work.

This File is made available under the 

Creative Commons CC0 1.0 

Universal Public Domain Dedication.

Author: Alf van Beem.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Text from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia,

unless stated otherwise.

Woodbine is a British brand of cigarettes owned and manufactured by Imperial Brands. 

Woodbine cigarettes are named after the woodbine flowers, native to Eurasia.

Woodbine was launched in 1888 by W.D. & H.O. Wills. 

Noted for its strong unfiltered cigarettes, the brand was cheap and popular in the Early-20th-Century with the working-class, as well as with Army men during the First and Second World War.[5][6] 

In The Great War (World War One), the British Army Chaplain, Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy MC, was affectionately nicknamed “Woodbine Willie” by troops on The Western Front, to whom he handed out cigarettes, along with Bibles and spiritual comfort.

The Harsh Truth About Woodbine: 

Britain’s Toughest Cigarette.

Available On YouTube

HERE

In the 1890s, Woodbine cigarettes were offered at a margin of 19%, with a possible maximum discount of 10%. 

In the United Kingdom, the brand was sold at very low advertising costs and total expenditure on sales promotion for all cigarettes and tobacco brands in 1925 was only 2d per pound of tobacco sold.[7]

The intricate 19th-Century packet design remained in use until the Mid-1960s. Although Wills changed the packaging, Woodbine sales continued to drop.

Illustration: 

BAMFORDS AUCTIONEERS & VALUERS

In common parlance, the unfiltered high-tar Woodbine was one of the brands collectively known as “Gaspers” until about 1950, because new smokers found their harsh smoke difficult to inhale.

A filtered version was launched in the United Kingdom in 1948, but was discontinued in 1988. 

Woodbines came in four different packs: 

Five cigarettes; 

Ten cigarettes; 

Twenty cigarettes; 

Fifty cigarettes.

They were often known as “Woodies”.[8]

In the 1960s, a few television adverts were made in which Gordon Rollings played a man who engaged in numerous activities (including waiting for the bus or setting up a beach chair) and would always end in misery. 

He then would grab a packet of Woodbines from his pocket and light one, followed by a happy tune and a man reading the line “Light up life with a Woodbine ! It’s Britain’s best-selling cigarette !”.[9][10][11] at the end.

The adverts were never played on TV, however, as all television commercials for cigarettes were banned on 1 August 1965.[12][13] 

A jingle was also made to promote Woodbine in the Late-1950s or Early-1960s.[14]

Woodbines were the oft-mentioned cigarette of choice for Tristan Farnon (Brian Sinclair), the younger of the two veterinary brothers in James Herriot’s semi-autobiographical All Creatures Great and Small series.

Princess Alice of Battenberg, mother of Prince Philip and mother-in-law of Queen Elizabeth II, who founded a Nursing Order of Greek Orthodox Nuns in 1949, smoked Woodbines. 

Prince Philip’s biographer, Gyles Brandreth, wrote of Princess Alice during her time at Buckingham Palace: “They say you could always tell when she was coming along the corridor, because of the whiff of Woodbines in the air. The idea of the Duke of Edinburgh’s mum, dressed as a Nun, sucking on her Woodbine . . . it’s wonderful !”[15]

John Lennon was originally fond of smoking Woodbines while he was a student and into the Early-1960s, before switching to smoking the French-made Gauloises Bleues. 

After switching, Lennon mocked the use of Woodbines during a documentary film that chronicled the Beatles’ first visit to America.[17]

Van Morrison, a Northern Irish singer-songwriter, mentions buying Woodbines in the song “Cleaning Windows” (“Bought five Woodbines at the shop on the corner . . . And went straight back to work”[18]) as a pictorial description of the main character of the song, who is a simple working man.

Woodbines are mentioned in Sheffield United Football Club’s anthem “The Greasy Chip Butty Song’.[20]

Some Late-19th-Century to Early-20th-Century steamships sported as many as five long and thin smokestacks (sometimes including a dummy one), notably the Russian cruiser Askold, earning them the nickname “Packet of Woodbines” among sailors.