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

Wednesday 27 July 2016

Advance Notice: Vespers Of All Souls. Wednesday, 2 November 2016. 1730 hrs.



Fr Timothy Finigan Celebrates a Requiem Mass for Michael Davies
in Our Lady of The Assumption Church, Warwick Street, London,
in 2015. The Mass was Organised by THE LATIN MASS SOCIETY
Picture Credit: © DylanParry.
Illustration: LMS CHAIRMAN


Text is from LMS 


It is worth noting as a rather unusual Liturgical event. Once upon a time, Vespers on Sundays and Great Feasts was quite normal.

In this case, it is The Commemoration of All The Faithful Departed - All Souls - and the Vespers is Vespers of The Dead.

We're going to Celebrate it with Polyphony. Come along to complete your Liturgical Commemoration of the Souls of those who have gone before us.

Fr Mark Elliot Smith will Officiate.

5:30 p.m. Wednesday 2 November 2016
(All Souls Day).

Our Lady of The Assumption,
Warwick Street, London W1B 5LZ.

Latin Vespers of The Dead.
With Polyphony (Viadana and Palestrina).


Support the work of The LMS by becoming an 'Anniversary Supporter'.



"In Paradisum".
by 
Gabriel Fauré.
Available on YouTube at

Tuesday 26 July 2016

Père Jacques Hamel. Requiescat In Pace.



The Crucifixion.
Artist: Salvador Dali.
Illustration: STIRRING CONSTANTLY


If you want know
This is what the priesthood is about

Père Jacques Hamel.
Illustration: FR RAY BLAKE'S BLOG



"In Paradisum".
Fauré Requiem.
Available on YouTube at


In paradisum deducant te Angeli:
in tuo adventu suscipiant te Martyres,
et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Jerusalem,
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Jerusalem.

Chorus Angelorum te suscipiat,
et cum Lazaro quondam paupere,
et cum Lazaro quondam paupere
æternam habeas requiem,
æternam habeas requiem.


May The Angels lead you into Paradise,
May The Martyrs receive you in your coming,
And may they guide you into The Holy City, Jerusalem.
May The Choirs of Angels receive you,
And, with Lazarus, once poor, may you have Eternal Rest.

Saint Anne. Mother Of The Blessed Virgin Mary. Feast Day 26 July.


Text and Illustrations from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia,
unless otherwise stated.

Saint Anne.
Mother of The Blessed Virgin Mary.
Feast Day 26 July.

Double of The Second-Class.

White Vestments.



English: Parish Church of Saint Ulrich in Ulrichsberg, Austria.
Statue of Saint Anne teaching The Virgin Mary (1722).
Deutsch: Pfarrkirche Sant Ulrich in Ulrichsberg.
Statue der Heiligen Anna, wie sie der
Jungfrau Maria das Lesen bei bringt (1722).
Photo: 20 June 2008.
Source: Own work.
Author: Wolfgang Sauber.
(Wikimedia Commons)



Saint Joachim and Saint Anne,
parents of The Virgin Mary.
This File: 2 October 2006.
User: Gipsy.
(Wikimedia Commons)



English: Joachim and the Angel.
Français: Joachim et l'Ange.
Artist: Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528).
Date: 1504.
Current location: Petit Palais, Paris, France.
Source/Photographer: Albrecht Dürer : œuvre gravé,
catalogue de l'exposition à Paris, au Musée du Petit Palais,
4 avril-21 juillet 1996. ISBN 9782879002705.
(Wikimedia Commons)


Saint Anne (also known as Ann or Anna, from Hebrew Hannah חַנָּה, meaning "Favour" or "Grace") of David's House and Line, was The Mother of The Virgin Mary, and Grandmother of Jesus Christ.

Joachim ("he whom YHWH has set up", Hebrew: יְהוֹיָקִים Yəhôyāqîm, Greek Ἰωακείμ Iōākeím) was the husband of Saint Anne and the father of Mary, The Mother of Jesus,. His Feast Day is 16 August.



Akathist Hymn to The Mother of God.
"Réjouis toi Marie", 1/6.
Opéra d'images de Jean-Michel Mahenc.
Créé pour les Nocturnes de Notre-Dame de Paris - L'hymne acathiste : un magnifique poème byzantin du VIe siècle sur la Vierge Marie. Sommet de la spiritualité orthodoxe -
Commande du DVD : Tel 0160664564 - magali.barbizon@me.com
Available on YouTube at


The Akathist Hymn (Ἀκάθιστος Ὕμνος, Unseated Hymn) is a Hymn of Eastern Orthodox Tradition Dedicated to a Saint, Holy Event, or one of The Persons of The Holy Trinity. The name derives from the fact that during the Chanting of the Hymn, or sometimes the whole Service, the Congregation is expected to remain standing in reverence, without sitting down (Ancient Greek ἀ- (a), [without, not] + κάθισις (káthisis), [sitting]), except for the aged or infirm.

Mary's mother is not named in The Canonical Gospels, nor in the Qur'an. Anne's name and that of her husband, Joachim, come only from New Testament Apocrypha, of which The Protoevangelium of James (written perhaps around 150 A.D.) seems to be the earliest that mentions them.



Akathist Hymn to The Mother of God.
"Réjouis toi Marie", 2/6.
Opéra d'images de Jean-Michel Mahenc.
Créé pour les Nocturnes de Notre-Dame de Paris - L'hymne acathiste : un magnifique poème byzantin du VIe siècle sur la Vierge Marie. Sommet de la spiritualité orthodoxe -
Commande du DVD : Tel 0160664564 - magali.barbizon@me.com
Available on YouTube at



Akathist Hymn to The Mother of God.
"Réjouis toi Marie", 3/6.
Opéra d'images de Jean-Michel Mahenc.
Créé pour les Nocturnes de Notre-Dame de Paris - L'hymne acathiste : un magnifique poème byzantin du VIe siècle sur la Vierge Marie. Sommet de la spiritualité orthodoxe -
Commande du DVD : Tel 0160664564 - magali.barbizon@me.com
Available on YouTube at



Akathist Hymn to The Mother of God.
"Réjouis toi Marie", 4/6.
Opéra d'images de Jean-Michel Mahenc.
Créé pour les Nocturnes de Notre-Dame de Paris - L'hymne acathiste : un magnifique poème byzantin du VIe siècle sur la Vierge Marie. Sommet de la spiritualité orthodoxe -
Commande du DVD : Tel 0160664564 - magali.barbizon@me.com
Available on YouTube at



Akathist Hymn to The Mother of God.
"Réjouis toi Marie", 5/6.
Opéra d'images de Jean-Michel Mahenc.
Créé pour les Nocturnes de Notre-Dame de Paris - L'hymne acathiste : un magnifique poème byzantin du VIe siècle sur la Vierge Marie. Sommet de la spiritualité orthodoxe -
Commande du DVD : Tel 0160664564 - magali.barbizon@me.com
Available on YouTube at


The story bears a similarity to that of the birth of Samuel, whose mother Hannah had also been childless. Although Anne receives little attention in The Western Church, prior to the Late-12th-Century, dedications to Anne in The Eastern Church occur as early as the 6th-Century A.D.

In The Eastern Orthodox Churches and Eastern Catholic Churches, she is revered as Hanna. In the Eastern Orthodox Tradition, Hanna, is ascribed the Title "Forbear of God", and both The Birth of Mary and The Dedication of Mary to the Temple are Celebrated as two of The Twelve Great Feasts. The Dormition of Hanna is also a Minor Feast in The Eastern Church. In Protestant Tradition, it is held that Martin Luther chose to enter Religious Life, as a Roman Catholic Augustinian Monk, after crying out to Saint Anne.



Akathist Hymn to The Mother of God.
"Réjouis toi Marie", 6/6.
Opéra d'images de Jean-Michel Mahenc.
Créé pour les Nocturnes de Notre-Dame de Paris - L'hymne acathiste : un magnifique poème byzantin du VIe siècle sur la Vierge Marie. Sommet de la spiritualité orthodoxe -
Commande du DVD : Tel 0160664564 - magali.barbizon@me.com
Available on YouTube at

Saint Anne. Mother of The Blessed Virgin Mary.
Artist: Rene de Cramer.
“Copyright Brunelmar/Ghent/Belgium”.
Used with Permission.


The following Text is from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,

The Church honours, with The Angels, in Holy Joy (Introit), The Mother of The Blessed Virgin Mary.

As her name signifies, [the name "Anne" derives from Hebrew. 'Hannah' meaning 'Grace"], Grace was poured on her, and she was Blessed by God for ever (Communion). "By His Grace, He made her deserve to be The Mother of The Mother of God" (Collect).

Filled with the Virtues which The Holy Ghost grants to good women, the Spouse of Saint Joachim surpassed all women by her Privileges and Graces (Epistle). Her Holiness made her leave everything for God, and she thereby acquired this Pearl and this Treasure (Gospel).

The Devotion to Saint Anne is founded on the bond which unites her to Mary and to The Incarnate Word. Its ancient Liturgy dates from the 6th-Century A.D. for The Eastern Church and the 8th-Century A.D. for The Western Church.

It was authorised by Pope Urban IV in 1378. In 1584, Pope Gregory XIII fixed 26 July as the date of The Feast and Pope Leo XIII, in 1879, extended it to The Whole Church.

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

Mass: Gaudeámus omnes.

"The Mission".



Poster For The 1986 Film "The Mission".
Original Movie Poster: Source: www.impawards.com
(Wikipedia)



Theme Music From
"The Mission" by Ennio Morricone.
Available on YouTube at

Nearly Nine Million Innocent Lives Have Been Lost Under The 1967 ABORTION Act.


Text in this Article, unless otherwise stated,, is taken from, and can be read in full at,
THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF UNBORN CHILDREN





David Steel (formerly MP) claimed, at the time, that "nobody is advocating ABORTION on demand".
Nearly Nine Million Innocent Lives Have Been Lost Under The 1967 ABORTION Act.


50 Years Ago, Today (22 July 2016),
MPs Approved The Second Reading Of
The ABORTION Act 1967
On The Basis Of Lies.


Fifty years ago, today (22 July 2016), The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Bill [subsequently The ABORTION Act 1967] passed its Second Reading in The House of Commons with a massive vote of 223 votes For and 29 Against.

SPUC calculates that, so far, 8,624,567 Innocent Lives have been lost under The 1967 ABORTION Act.

It's instructive to consider The Pro-ABORTION Lobby's claims, in 1966, in The Second Reading Debate and during subsequent Debates on this tragic legislation:




" . . . it is not the intention of the promoters of The Bill to leave a wide open door for ABORTION on request." (David Steel, Hansard 5th Series, Vol 732, col 1075, 22 July, 1966);

"Nobody is advocating ABORTION on demand in this Committee or anywhere else . . ." (David Steel, Standing Committee F, 15 February 1967, col 250);

"It is certainly not a general licence to a medical practitioner to carry out an ABORTION on anybody who desires it." (Lord Silkin, Sponsor of The ABORTION Act 1967 in The House of Lords, Hansard,
19 July 1967, col 263).




What proved to be true was the following:

As early as 1972, a Report by The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) stated:
". . . there is no such danger of injury [to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman] in the vast majority of cases [of women seeking ABORTION], as the ‘indication’ is purely a social one." (RCOG Report on Unplanned pregnancy. London, England: RCOG; 1972);

And (Lord) David Steel, himself, formerly David Steel MP, has, over the decades, openly promoted ABORTION on demand: "If it's simply the decision of the mother, then the limit should be twelve weeks" (BBC, 4 July 2004);

He has also written: "Incidentally, I was misreported in one Sunday Paper as advocating a lower limit for "social" ABORTIONS. There should be no such distinction - proper medical care takes all social considerations into account . . . " (The Guardian 6 July 2004);




And, earlier this year, Lord Steel said, regarding The State of The Law in Northern Ireland, that it was "simply ridiculous" and "absolutely extraordinary" that ABORTION is not widely available there.

The following Text is from Zephyrinus, the Editor:

All of us, at some time in the future, will have to stand before Jesus Christ, Second Person of The Divine Trinity, and Give An Account of Our Lives to Him.




Without, of course, casting aspersions on Lord Steel, or anybody else, one wonders how Lord David Martin Scott Steel, Baron Steel of Aikwood, KT KBE PC, will answer The Son of God (see, above) when it comes to nearly Nine Million Innocent Lives Having Been Lost Due To ABORTION.

It would be most interesting to hear his reply:

Waiting.

Waiting.

Still Waiting.




Take your time.

No rush.

Talk amongst yourselves.

Any time, now.




No doubt.

Won't be long, now.

Here it comes.

Surely.




Well, any minute, now.

Waiting.

Still waiting.

And, still waiting.




. . .

To Be Confirmed.

Meanwhile . . .

Nearly Nine Million Innocent Lives
Have Been Lost Under
The 1967 ABORTION Act.




Monday 25 July 2016

Saint Christopher. Martyr. Feast Day 25 July.


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

Saint Christopher.

Martyr.
Feast Day 25 July.

Simple.

Red Vestments.





Saint Christopher carrying The Christ Child.
Date: 1480-1490.
Museum Boymans-van Beuningen,
This File: 22 January 2007.
User: Alekjds.
(Wikipedia)


Saint Christoper was a native of Chanaan. His name ("Who bears Christ") expresses his love of Jesus. A generous Soul, he walked like a giant in The Way of Virtue.

The Piety of our Fathers, inspired by this grand allegory, caused them to place a colossal statue of Saint Christopher at the entrance to Cathedrals. He was Martyred towards 250 A.D.

He is one of "The Fourteen Auxiliary Saints".

Mass: In virtúte.


St Andrew Daily Missal (Traditional Mass)



Available (in U.K.) from

Available (in U.S.A.) from


Laon Cathedral.



The Nave,
Laon Cathedral
(Cathedral of Our Lady of Laon)
(Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Laon),
Picardy, France.
Illustration: PINTEREST



The Nave,
Laon Cathedral
(Cathedral of Our Lady of Laon)
(Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Laon),
Picardy, France.
The Nave has four tiers,
Photo: 1 February 2005.
Source: Own work.
Author: Paul Hermans.
(Wikimedia Commons)



"Salve Regina"
(Hail, Holy Queen).
Available on YouTube at


The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia.

Laon Cathedral (Cathedral of Our Lady of Laon) (Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Laon) is one of the most important examples of Gothic Architecture of the 12th- and 13th-Centuries, earlier than the Cathedrals of Sens and Notre-Dame de Paris and ranking with them in importance. It is located in Laon, Picardy, France, and is The Seat of The Bishop of Laon. It has been Listed among the Monuments Historiques since 1840.

The current Cathedral is built on the site of an earlier edifice, commenced under the Episcopacy
of Gerfrid (774 A.D. - 800 A.D.). It was Consecrated on 6 September 800 A.D. in the presence of
The Holy Roman Emperor, himself.




The Great West Front of Laon Cathedral
(Cathedral of Our Lady of Laon)
(Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Laon),
Picardy, France.
Photo: 14 April 2015.
Source: Own work.
Author: Diliff.
Attribution: "Photo by DAVID ILIFF.
License: CC-BY-SA 3.0"
(Wikimedia Commons)

The Carolingian building was replaced under Bishop Élinand (1052–1095). The present building was inaugurated with the second Coronation of the future King Philip I. This Cathedral was torched during the Easter Insurrection on 25 April 1112. During the revolt, Laon's unpopular Bishop Waldric (in French Gaudry) was killed, despite taking the precaution of hiding in a barrel in the cellar of the Episcopal Palace. The Cathedral was not destroyed, however, and, after a repair programme lasting two years, it was re-Dedicated in 1114 under Bishop Barthélemy de Jur.




English: Laon Cathedral, Aisne, Picardie, France.
The Vault at The Transept Crossing.
Français: Notre-Dame de Laon, Aisne, Picardie, France. La voûte à la croisée du transept:
le chœur est au bas de la photo, la nef en haut, le transept dans le sens horizontal.
Photo: 1 September 2008.
Source: Own work.
Author: Tango7174.
(Wikimedia Commons)

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