Notre Dame de Rouen. The façade of the Gothic Church in France. Photographer: Hippo1947. Licence: SHUTTERSTOCK.

Saturday, 24 October 2020

Saint Raphael The Archangel. Whose Feast Day Is, Today, 24 October.


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




Archangel Raphael with Bishop Domonte.
Artist: Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617–1682).
Current location: Pushkin Museum, Moscow, Russia.
Source/Photographer: http://www.allposters.com/-sp/
Transferred from en.wikipedia 2007-11-26 (original upload date).
Original uploader was Commment at en.wikipedia.
(Wikimedia Commons)



Raphæl (Standard Hebrew רָפָאֵל, Rāfāʾēl, "It Is God Who Heals", "God Heals", "God, Please Heal") is an Archangel of Judaism and Christianity, who, in The Judeo-Christian Tradition, performs all manner of healing. In Islam, Raphæl is the same as Israfil. Raphæl is mentioned in The Book of Tobit, which is accepted as Canonical by Catholics, Orthodox, and some Anglo-Catholics, and as useful for public teaching by Lutherans and Anglicans.

The Angels, mentioned in The Torah, the older Books of The Hebrew Bible, are without names. Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish of Tiberias (230 A.D. – 270 A.D.), asserted that all the specific names for The Angels were brought back by the Jews from Babylon, and modern commentators would tend to agree.

Raphael is named in several Jewish Apocryphal Books (see below).

Raphael bound Azazel under a desert, called Dudael,
according to Enoch 10:4–6:
And again The Lord said to Raphael: 'Bind Azazel hand and foot, and cast him into the darkness; and make an opening in the desert, which is in Dudael, and cast him therein. And place upon him rough and jagged rocks, and cover him with darkness, and let him abide there for ever, and cover his face that he may not see light. And, on the day of The Great Judgement, he shall be cast into The Fire.


English: Pope Benedict XV, in 1915.
[Editor: Pope Benedict XV extended The Feast Day of Saint Raphael
to the whole of The Catholic Church in 1921.]
Français: Photo de Benoît XV prise vers 1915.
Source: Library of Congress.
Author: Unknown.
(Wikimedia Commons)



Of seven Archangels in The Angelology of Post-Exilic Judaism, only Michæl, mentioned as Archangel (Daniel 12:1; Jude, verse 9), and Gabriel, are mentioned by name in The Scriptures that came to be accepted as Canonical by all Christians.

The name of the Angel Raphael, appears only in The Deuterocanonical Book of Tobit. The Book of Tobit is considered Canonical by Catholics, Orthodox, and some Anglicans. Raphael first appears disguised in human form as the travelling companion of Tobit's son, Tobiah (Greek: Τωβίας/Tobias), calling himself "Azarias, the son of the great Ananias". During the course of the journey, the Archangel's protective influence is shown in many ways, including the binding of a demon in the desert of Upper Egypt. After returning, and healing the blind Tobit, Azarias makes himself known as "The Angel Raphael, one of the seven who stand before The Lord" (Tobit 12:15). He is often Venerated and Patronised as Saint Raphael The Archangel.

Regarding the healing powers attributed to Raphael, we have his declaration to Tobit (Tobit, 12) that he was sent by The Lord to heal him of his blindness and to deliver Sarah, his future daughter-in-law, from the demon Asmodeus, who kills every man she marries, on their wedding night, before the marriage can be consummated.



English: Tobias and The Angel
(Tob. 6:1-18).
Русский: Товия и ангел
(Тов. 6:1-18).
Date: 1866.
Source: Doré's English Bible.
Author: Gustave Doré (1832–1883).
(Wikimedia Commons)



In The New Testament, only The Archangels Gabriel and Michael are mentioned by name (Luke 1:9-26; Jude 1:9). Later manuscripts of John 5:1-4 refer to The Pool at Bethesda, where the multitude of the infirm lay, awaiting the moving of the water, for "an Angel of The Lord descended at certain times into the pond; and the water was moved. And he that went down first into the pond, after the motion of the water, was made whole of whatsoever infirmity he lay under". Because of the healing role assigned to Raphael, this particular Angel is generally associated with The Archangel.

Raphael is sometimes shown as standing atop a large fish, or holding a caught fish at the end of a line. This is a reference to The Book of Tobit (Tobias), where he told Tobias to catch a fish, and then uses the gall-bladder to heal Tobit's eyes, and to drive away Asmodeus by burning the heart and liver.

Due to his actions in The Book of Tobit and the Gospel of John, Saint Raphael is accounted Patron of travellers, the blind, happy meetings, nurses, physicians, medical workers, matchmakers, Christian marriage, and Catholic studies.



Saint Raphael's Roman Catholic Church,
Photo: 26 November 2008.
Source: Own work.
Author: Mattinbgn
(Wikimedia Commons)



As a particular enemy of the devil, he was revered in Catholic Europe as a special protector of Catholic sailors. On a corner of Venice’s famous Doge’s Palace, there is a Relief, depicting Raphael holding a scroll, on which is written: "Efficia fretum quietum" (“Keep the Gulf quiet”).

On 8 July 1497, when Vasco Da Gama set forth from Lisbon, Portugal, with his four-ship fleet to sail to India, the flagship was named, at the King of Portugal’s insistence, Saint Raphael. When the flotilla reached The Cape of Good Hope on 22 October 1497, the sailors disembarked and erected a Column in The Archangel’s honour. The little statue of Saint Raphael, that accompanied Da Gama on the voyage, is now in The Naval Museum in Lisbon, Portugal.

The Feast Day of Raphael was included for the first time in The General Roman Calendar in the year 1921, for Celebration on 24 October [Editor: Pope Benedict XV extended The Feast of Saint Raphael to the whole Catholic Church in 1921]. With the reform of The Roman Catholic Calendar of Saints in 1969, this Feast was Transferred to 29 September, for Celebration together with Saints Michael and Gabriel (both Archangels). Due to Pope Benedict XVI's Summorum Pontificum, The Roman Catholic Church still permits use of The 1962 Calendar, allowing both Feast Days.



English: Church of Saint Raphael The Archangel,
Montreal, Canada.
Français: Église Saint-Raphael-Archange,
495, rue Cherrier, île Bizard. Montreal, Canada. info
Photo: 30 July 2011.
Source: Own work.
Author: Jeangagnon
(Wikimedia Commons)



The Archangel Raphæl is said to have appeared in Cordoba, Spain, during the 16th-Century; in response to the City’s appeal, Pope Innocent X allowed the local Celebration of a Feast in The Archangel’s honour on 7 May, the date of the principal Apparition.

Saint John of God, Founder of The Hospital Order that bears his name, is also said to have received Visitations from Saint Raphæl, who encouraged and instructed him. In tribute to this, many of The Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God’s facilities are called “Raphæl Centres”, to this day. The 18th-Century Neapolitan Nun, Saint Maria Francesca of The Five Wounds, is also said to have seen an Apparition of Raphæl.

Raphael is honoured in Islam as one of the great Archangels and is known more commonly as "Israfil" or "Israfel" in Islamic history.



English: Church of The Holy Archangels Raphael and Michael,
Aleksandrów Łódzki, Poland,
Deutsch: Aleksandrów Łódzki, römisch-katholische
Kirche der Hl. Erzengel Rafael und Michael.
Italiano: Aleksandrów Łódzki, Chiesa romana-cattolica
dei SS. Arcangeli Raffaele e Michele.
Русский: Александрув-Лодзинский, костёл Св.
Архангелов Рафаила и Михаила.
Photo: 26 May 2007.
Source: Own work.
Author: KKK2352
(Wikimedia Commons)



According to “The Hadith”, he is the Angel responsible for signalling the coming of Judgement Day by blowing the trumpet (namely Sûr). According to Tradition, the trumpet will be blown three times. The first blow of the trumpet will signal the beginning of The Last Day and the second blow will signal the death of all living things, and the third blow will signal the time when all the Souls from all ages will be gathered for The Last Judgement. According to The Quran, an unnamed Trumpet-Angel, assumed to be Israfel, has been holding his breath, waiting for Allah's order to blow the Sûr.

The Angel Raphael, along with many other prominent Angels, appears in John Milton's Paradise Lost, in which he is assigned by God to re-warn Adam concerning the sin of eating of The Tree of The Knowledge of Good and Evil. He also expounds to Adam, the War in Heaven, in which Lucifer and the demons fell, and the creation of the Earth.



Saint Michael's Church, Ballinasloe, County Galway, Ireland. East Window, by Frederick Settle Barff (1823–1886), depicting The Assumption (top Light), The Archangels Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and an Angel blowing The Last Trumpet (upper row), and Saints Patrick, Bridget, Dymphna, and Brendan (lower row). The Tracery matches that of The East Window of Kilconnell Friary
(see small picture, below).
Photo: 15 September 2010.
Source: Own work.
Reference: 2010/9614.
(Wikimedia Commons)




(see Note, above).



The following Text is from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal.

Saint Raphael The Archangel.
   Feast Day 24 October.

Double.

White Vestments.

Saint Raphael is one of The Seven Spirits who always stand before The Lord (Antiphon at The Magnificat) and offer Him the Incense of their Adoration and that of men (Offertory).

"While thou didst Pray with tears," he declared to Tobias, "and didst bury the dead, and didst leave thy dinner to conceal the dead in thy house by day, and by night didst bury them, I presented thy Prayer unto The Lord. And because thy wast agreeable to The Lord, it was necessary that temptation should try thee" (Second Lesson at Matins).

Tobias became blind. "The loss of his eye-sight," says Saint Augustine, "was the occasion for the old man to receive an Angelical physician" (Fourth Lesson at Matins).



English: The Archangel Raphael with Tobias.
The Church of Saint Michael, Lutzingen, Germany.
Deutsch: Katholische Pfarrkirche St. Michael in Lutzingen,
einer Gemeinde im Landkreis Dillingen an der Donau (Bayern),
zentrales Chorfenster mit der Darstellung des Erzengels Raphael,
der Tobias begleitet.
Photo: 2 December 2010.
Source: Own work.
Author: GFreihalter
(Wikimedia Commons)



Saint Raphael, a name meaning "God Heals", was sent by God to cure Tobias, as He sent the Angel who moved the water in the pool called Probatica (Gospel). He told the younger Tobias what remedy he was to use to restore his father's sight, accompanied and protected the young man on his journey, helped him to find a wife, and warded off the wiles of the devil.

"We praise with sentiments of Veneration," The Church sings, "all The Princes of The Heavenly Court, but in a special manner The Archangel Raphael, healer and faithful companion, who chained down the devil under his power.



English: The Church of Saint Michael in Lutzingen, Germany.
Saint Raphael is depicted in one of the Stained-Glass Windows in this Church.
Deutsch: Katholische Pfarrkirche St. Michael in Lutzingen,
einer Gemeinde im Landkreis Dillingen an der Donau (Bayern),
Innenraum mit Blick zum Chor.
Photo: 2 December 2010.
Source: Own work.
Author: GFreihalter
(Wikimedia Commons)

"O, Christ, King of all goodness, by giving us such a guardian, make it impossible for the enemy to do us harm" (Hymn).

"May The Angel Raphael, physician of our Salvation, help us from The Heights of Heaven, heal all diseases and guide our faltering steps towards The True Life" (Hymn at Lauds).

Pope Benedict XV extended Saint Raphael The Archangel's Feast Day to The Universal Church in 1921.

Mass: Benedícite Dóminum.
Creed.

Friday, 23 October 2020

A Tour Of A Stunning Catholic Church. Saint John Cantius Church, Chicago.

 


A Tour Of A Stunning Catholic Church.
Saint John Cantius Church, Chicago.
Available on YouTube at

Reclaim Halloween From The Secular Abuses Prevalent Nowadays. Herewith, All Hallows' Eve In The Traditional Pre-1955 Liturgy.



A Jack o'Lantern
made for the Holywell Manor Halloween celebrations.
Photo: 31 October 2003.
Source: Own work.
Illustration: Toby Ord
(Wikipedia)


“Halloween has always belonged properly to The Church, and, as such, it should be made a key strategic objective in a cultural “Reconquista”.”


This Article is taken from LITURGICAL ARTS JOURNAL

By: Claudio Salvucci.

Halloween is a Liturgical holiday. Anyone would be forgiven for not knowing that, because almost nobody keeps it that way anymore—to such a degree that some Catholics are of the opinion that we should wash our hands of the whole business. But Halloween has always belonged properly to The Church, and, as such, it should be made a key strategic objective in a cultural “Reconquista”.

To help illustrate why, I’d like to walk through the day of 31 October, not as the World celebrates it, now, but as The Latin Church Celebrated it for Centuries, listed in The Martyrology as “Vigilia Omnium Sanctorum”.



The Morning Offices.

31 October would Traditionally have begun with The Office of Matins before Sun-Rise. Traditionally, Week-Days in October Matins featured Readings from The Book of Maccabees. But, on 31 October, the Readings switch to Luke 6 and Ambrose’s Homily (Sermon) on The Beatitudes.

These Lessons, appointed for Halloween, come from The Common Of Many Martyrs, and we will see this theme of The Beatitudes re-appear, not only later in The Vigil Day, but also in The Feast of All Saints, to follow.


from the translation of The Roman Breviary
by John, The Marquess of Bute, 1890.

The other unique element of The Office for Halloween is The Collect, taken from The Mass, and referring to the joy of all The Saints and the “Glorious and Solemn Commemoration” of the next day. We will return to this Collect, later, but suffice it to say that we can already see, even before the Sun rises on 31 October, and really back to The Martyrology entry read at Prime on 30 October, that The Sacred Liturgy had set this day aside as something special.



The Mass.

As a Vigil, The Mass of Halloween saw the Altar and Priest Vested in Penitential Violet. It had its own dedicated set of Propers and Readings. Overall, they anticipate the joy of the subsequent Feast [Editor: All Saints], though often with a slightly different twist.

The beginning of the Halloween Introit, “Judicant sancti gentes, et dominantur populis” (The Saints judge Nations, and rule over people), strikes a more stern, Last-Judgement, tone than the purely jubilant All Saints Introit “Gaudeamus omnes in Domino” (Let us rejoice in The Lord), even though they both end on the same Psalm: “Exsultate, justi, in Domino” (Rejoice in The Lord, ye Just).




Beginning of The Mass of The Vigil,
from The New Roman Missal of Fr. Lasance (1938).



In the Halloween Gradual and Offertory, note the grammatical tense in “exsultabunt and laetabuntur”: “The Saints shall rejoice in glory, they shall be joyful in their beds”. The future tense, here, seems to pull double duty, not only helping to point forward to the next day’s Feast (Editor: All Saints], but also inviting a comparison between what the Canonised Saints enjoy now and what the Christian Faithful and the Souls in Purgatory will one day attain.

The Halloween Mass marks the dramatic appearance of The Apocalypse (Revelations) in The Liturgical Readings. Instead of a Pauline Epistle, we are suddenly confronted with Saint John’s spectacular and cryptic imagery: A Lamb with seven Horns and seven Eyes, Harps and Choirs, Angels circling the Throne. It is a startling vision—and it will continue to unfold through the rest of Hallowtide.

But only here, in The Vigil, do we see the Doctrine of Intercessory Prayer take such picturesque form as the “Golden Vials, full of odours, which are the Prayers of The Saints.” The Lesson also presents us with a first taste of universality, or Catholicity, of The Saints—Christ has “redeemed us to God, in Thy blood, out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and Nation,” a theme we will come back to at Vespers.


The Gospel of The Day, as at Matins, is drawn from Christ’s Sermon on The Plain, in Luke 6. It, therefore, nicely parallels the Gospel of All Saints’ Day, which presents The Sermon on The Mount from Matthew 5.

Both Texts give us The Beatitudes and point us toward The Path to Sainthood. But, intriguingly, Luke’s Sermon on The Plain also features an Exorcism: “And they that were troubled with unclean spirits were cured.” It is not a major theme of The Halloween Mass, to be sure, but its presence here is a well-timed reminder of our enemies in The Spiritual Battle—then, as now.

Another subtle hint can be found in The Communion Verse “Justorum animæ”, which reminds us that “the torment of malice” shall not touch The Just.



“Black Vespers”.

This strangely-named Office is really The Vespers of The Dead—“Black”, here, referring to the colour of The Vestments. These Vespers are not actually found on Halloween Day in any of The Church’s official Liturgical Books.

Their true Liturgical place is after Second Vespers of All Saints on 1 November. But I have included this Office, here, since there was a Breton Tradition of saying it on the afternoon of Vigil—apparently Devotionally (for historical references, see HERE and HERE). It may well have flourished in other places, as well, since Brittany was said to be particularly conservative in its retention of old Mediæval customs.


“Black Vespers” begins with the Antiphon “I will walk before The Lord in The Land of The Living”—and perhaps here we can see the origin of the idea that, on Halloween, The Departed Souls returned to Earth. Neo-pagans have made much of this Folk Belief, often claiming it to be a lingering vestige of the “old ways”—on slender evidence and over-optimistic assumptions of pagan survival. This Antiphon seems to offer a much more plausible source, and a better explanation, for the presence of this belief in disparate Countries.

In places where it was said, “Black Vespers” infused Halloween with the solemn spirit of All Souls’ Day—and reminded Catholics, looking toward Heaven, of their dear Departed still suffering in Purgatory. We can very much use this reminder, today, particularly as Catholic funerals have too often become deformed into pseudo-canonisations, with the Deceased rashly, and improperly, assumed to be enjoying Heaven, with no need of our Prayers.



First Vespers of All Saints.

Finally, we come to the actual appointed Vespers for 31 October: The First Vespers of All Saints’ Day. In the dimming light of Sunset, The Church officially begins its Celebration of that great Feast, having put aside the Penitential Violet Vestments and the Mournful Black Vestments, and Vesting in the exultant glory of White and Gold Vestments.

Re-echoing The Mass Lesson, its Antiphons boldly sweep up all history and all geography into The Heavenly Ranks: “I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all Nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the Throne.”; “Thou, O, Lord God, hast redeemed us by Thy Blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and Nation, and hast made us a Kingdom unto our God.”

The Vespers of All Saints is presenting us with a cast of historical and other-Worldly characters of every type, arrayed before us in a great colourful pageant.


The Sequence, “Placare Christi”, addresses, in each Verse, The Angels, The Apostles, The Purpled Martyrs, The Choir of Virgins and Confessors. The Antiphon at The Magnificat barely names a class of Saints before it runs to the next class in sheer delight—“O ye Angels, ye Archangels….O ye Patriarchs and Prophets, ye Holy Teachers of The Law,—O ye Apostles,—O all ye Martyrs of Christ, ye holy Confessors, ye Virgins of The Lord, ye Hermits,—O all ye holy children of God”.

As Vespers came to a close, the Lay Catholic of bygone ages retired with all these great themes and concepts, fresh in his mind, preparing himself for the Festivities of the next day. He would have seen Priestly Vestments change through the day from Penitential Violet, to Sombre Black, to White or Gold. 

And what, today, forms the Halloween colour palette ? Purple, Black, White and Orange—matching The Church’s Liturgy almost perfectly, save for the characteristic hue of The North American Autumn.




This is Halloween as Traditionally envisioned by The Church: A colourful pageant, where all the Nations, and even The Living, and The Dead, join together to give glory to God.

Regrettably, despite its long history and rich Tradition, The Eve of All Saints was one of The Vigils completely abolished in 1955. As a result, even Traditional Latin Mass Parishes, which generally use The 1962 Liturgical Books, do not offer The Liturgy that I have described above.

The First Vespers of All Saints still remains, of course, even in The 1970 Missal, but the abolition of The Vigil has turned the first part of The Day into simply another generic “Mass of The Season.”

The Triduum, and its subsequent Octave, are no more. Gone, too, are the Liturgical parallels between Halloween, All Saints, and All Souls, with their subtle variations and interwoven themes.



They are vestigially remembered though. Across the globe, the Liturgies of Hallowtide had long been imaginatively amplified by Folk Traditions and customs: “Souling” in The British Isles; “Pão-por-Deus”, in Portugal; “Dia de Muertos”, in Mexico; and “Pangangaluwa”, in The Philippines.

Praying for The Deceased of the family, and of neighbours, was a widespread phenomenon. In some areas, like Scotland and Ireland, children went “Guising”, or, “Masquerading”, after dark, carrying turnip lanterns, and singing, or reciting, Verses for “treats”.

But the original anchor for all of these customs was The Church’s Liturgy. Many of these customs were already seriously compromised after The Reformation—and, in England, Halloween customs had even been abolished by Law. But, when The Church, herself, pulled up the anchor, nothing could stop the various Folk Traditions in even Catholic Countries from drifting aimlessly.

What can we do ? Let us set a good example in our homes, first, restoring The Liturgical Halloween to our hearts and our hearths.



The Texts of this wonderful Vigil, from both The Mass and The Office, give us some excellent Devotions for the day. If you have a Pre-1955 Missal and Breviary, handy [Editor: Which I have, of course], the Prayers are readily available there for you to use.

Alternatively, you can access them On-Line using the Links, above. For convenience, I have also compiled them, and other Devotions, in a Small Booklet, soon to be available from Ancilla Press.

If, nothing else, we would do immense good by taking a few seconds that day, while we prepare for any Festivities, to Devoutly Pray The Collect of All Hallows Eve (Editor: As opposed to “Trick or Treating”).

“Oh, Lord, our God, multiply Thy Graces upon us, and grant that joy may follow in The Holy Praise of those whose glorious Festival we anticipate. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in The unity of The Holy Ghost, one God, World Without End.

Amen.




A Little Levity To Lighten Your Day . . .


Wednesday, 21 October 2020

Saint Ursula And Her Companions. Virgins. Martyrs. Feast Day 21 October.


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

Saint Ursula And Her Companions.
   Virgins.
   Martyrs.
   Feast Day 21 October.

Simple.

Red Vestments.



English: Saint Ursula, in a 15th-Century fresco,
in Saint Jacob Church, Urtijëi, Val Gardena, Italy.
Deutsch: Die Heilige Ursula in einem Fresko
der Kirche St. Jakob in St. Ulrich in Gröden -
Brixner Schule 15. Jahrhundert.
Photo: 7 September 2012.
Source: Own work.
(Wikimedia Commons)


"At Cologne, Germany", says The Roman Martyrology, "the birth in Heaven of Saint Ursula and her Holy Companions, who were massacred by The Huns, out of hatred for The Christian Religion and their Virginal purity. Several are buried in this City (Cologne)." This happened about 454 A.D.

Mass: Loquébar.
Collects: For Several Virgins Martyrs.


The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia.

It was recorded that Elizabeth of Schönau, Germany, experienced a vision that revealed to her The Martyrdom of Saint Ursula and her Companions.

The Street in London, called Saint Mary Axe, is named after the Church of Saint Mary Axe, originally Dedicated to Saint Mary The Virgin, Saint Ursula and The 11,000 Virgins.

Saint Mary Axe was a Mediæval Church in The City of London. Its full name was Saint Mary, Saint Ursula And Her 11,000 Virgins, and it was also sometimes referred to as Saint Mary Pellipar. Its common name (also Saint Mary-[or Marie]-at-the-Axe) derives from the sign of an Axe over The East End of the Church. The Church's Patrons were The Skinners' Company.


Looking Northwards, up Saint Mary Axe Street, from Leadenhall Street, London. The gherkin-shaped skyscraper is officially named 30 Saint Mary Axe and is very close to the actual site of the Mediæval Church of Saint Mary Axe, whose full name was Saint Mary, Saint Ursula And Her 11,000 Virgins, which was demolished circa 1565.
Photo: 5 December 2010.
Source: 30, Saint Mary Axe.
Author: Aurelien Guichard, London, England.
(Wikimedia Commons)


According to John Stow, in A Survey of London (1603), the name derived from " the signe of an Axe, over against the East end thereof ". However, a document dated to the early Reign of King Henry VIII , describes a Holy Relic held in the Church: "An Axe, one of the two that the eleven thousand Virgins were beheaded with". This refers to the legend that Saint Ursula, when returning to Britain from a Pilgrimage to Rome, accompanied by eleven thousand handmaidens, had refused to marry a Hunnish Chief and was executed along with her whole entourage on the site of modern Cologne, Germany, in about 451 AD.

The Mediæval Church in London was situated just North of Leadenhall Street, on a site now occupied by Fitzwilliam House. First mentioned as "Saint Mary Apud Ax", it belonged for a time to the nearby Priory of Saint Helen's. At the time of The Dissolution Of The Monasteries, it was still extant, but in decline, and, in 1562, it was offered to Spanish Protestant refugees as a place of worship. Three years later, however, it was unused and in a state of disrepair. Shortly afterwards, it was pulled down and its Parish was united with that of the neighbouring Saint Andrew Undershaft.

The Church gave its name to a Street of the same name, which links Leadenhall Street with Camomile Street and Houndsditch. No. 30 was the location of The Baltic Exchange until it was destroyed by an IRA bomb in 1992; the Exchange is now located at No. 38, just to the North of its former address. On the site of the old Baltic Exchange now stands 30, Saint Mary Axe, a skyscraper known colloquially as The Gherkin, because of its distinctive shape.

The Street of Saint Mary Axe was also the location of The Sorcerer's Shop in Gilbert and Sullivan's Operetta, The Sorcerer, which documents the former pronunciation "Simmery Axe".

The Church that remains in the modern-day Saint Mary Axe is Saint Andrew Undershaft.

Tuesday, 20 October 2020

“Gabriel’s Oboe”. The Theme from “The Mission”. Composed by: Ennio Morricone. Conducted by: Ennio Morricone.



“Gabriel’s Oboe”.
The Theme from “The Mission”.
Composed by: Ennio Morricone.
Conducted by: Ennio Morricone.
Available on YouTube at

The Promotion Of The Blessed Sacrament Of The Altar. The Polish Association Of Christian Culture.


“Stop Communion In The Hand”.


Kto spożywa ten Chleb niegodnie, winny
będzie Ciała i Krwi Pańskiej | CialoChrystusa.com

Join our most heartfelt congratulations to
The Polish Association of Christian Culture
for their beautiful campaign in promotion of
The Blessed Sacrament of The Altar.

In Poland, A Road-Side Billboard Exclaims: “ Stop Communion In The Hand !!! ”



Illustration: THE LATIN MASS SOCIETY RC DIOCESE OF MIDDLESBROUGH

This picture was taken from RORATE CÆLI

Apparently photographed alongside a road in Poland. 
Translated into English, it reads:
“Stop Communion In The Hand”.

A Little Levity To Lighten Your Day . . .



Picture Credit: Nicole Colbourn
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