Media Musings

Following my participation yesterday on the BBC Radio Wales programme, I have been listening to others and how they get the message across. I must say how impressed I was with the Bishop of Fulham on the 'Hardtalk' interview which he gave earlier in the year. It has great relevance for the events taking place now. Bp. John gives clear and concise leadership. You can listen to it here

Second Reformation

Who can doubt that we are in the midst of a second Reformation as Anglicans? The committee or synod now decides all matters, even theological, without heeding the advice of Bishops. But here in Wales it is worse. Our own six Bishops have at a stroke taken away Sacramental and pastoral care; they have done so by refusing to replace our Bishop, the Provincial Assistant Bishop. Women and men whose only wish is to live out the faith of their Baptism as received from the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church to which they faithfully witness are abandoned and orphaned. They cannot continue to worship faithfully when the promises they were given in 1991 in England and in 1996 here in Wales have been so flagrantly broken by those who should know how to behave better. To keep a promise is a moral imperative. That Christian people especially when in a majority including Bishops can blatantly break these promises is no less than a scandal and also an abuse. Of course we are divided over the issues, but where is the tolerance and love and pastoral care that ensures those with whom you disagree with are cared for? Not only women and men scattered throughout the Provinces but to Priests and their wives, their mothers, their daughters and their sons? They know very well that there are many who in all conscience cannot accept the innovations devised by the committee led church which has now taken over the Anglican Church. It is, or was until now, both Catholic and Reformed. This is a sad descent into Congregationalism. We pray for those who in all conscience will have to leave the church of their Baptism and especially those priests and the women in their families who will have no stipend, no pension rights and no roof over their heads. Of course the Lord will provide and there is, praise God, a far more generous, loving and caring home for them to go to presided over by a chief Bishop who will really love them, lead them and allow them to practice and flourish in that same catholic faith of their tradition. His name is the successor of Peter, the rock from which we were hewn, Benedict XVI. May he pray for us and those whom we know, who are in need of much love, guidance and care at this time. The second Reformation begins, let us 'be joyful and keep the faith!' That the Apostles were all men determined by Jesus Christ cannot be disputed; the Bishops are their successors in unbroken line. We do not believe that our branch of the Christian Church has the authority to change things on our own, simple as that. By the way let's just remember that there are millions of women who hold this view too. That's what I would have liked to say on the Radio programme which I was on this morning! But this here at the 2hr.45mins into the programme on the marker slide is what I was able to say in the limited time and format available. It is good that the BBC gives us a hearing at least, even if our own Bishops turn a deaf ear!

General Synod of C of E

I have been asked to take part in the Radio Wales 'Good Morning Wales' programme live tomorrow morning after 8 am. This is to be on the subject of revisiting the question of the ordination of women as Bishops in the Church in Wales in the light of today's events at General Synod. This is, I understand, a live broadcast and will not be edited. I will let you have the link to the recorded version when I get back in the morning. I am not sure why I've been asked other than I was a signatory to the letter by 100 clergy to The Times some time ago. I'll do my best to get across the message of those of us who don't accept that the Anglican Church has the authority to change the nature of the threefold ministry it has shared and inherited from wider Christendom and that we should not be a modern day sect making up our own rules..we'll see. Blessed Stephen and Lawrence pray for me an unworthy Deacon and an inheritor of your tradition and your Holy Orders.

Patronal Festival

Last weeks events to celebrate our Blessed Patron culminated in a festival Solemn Mass followed by an al fresco shared meal under perfect skies in the 'piazza' (we are leaning towards all things continental!) created for the day in the space between the 9th.cent. churchyard wall and the 19th.cent former village school part of which is now used for the Sunday School and community events. During Mass I was pleased that the children who had been preparing their depictions of the life of St. Arvan acquitted themselves brilliantly. His symbol is a coracle as he was a hermit and fisherman in the finest tradition of Apostles and the coracle made and decorated with ivy for the occasion by the children was processed and blessed at the offertory. They also gave a dramatic presentation of the story of the slaying of Eli the Deacon in front of the altar here in the 1300's when Sanctuary was desecrated Thomas a Becket-style but more of this and our search for the identity of Arvan in another post when we explore the church mentioned in the Llandaff Charter of 955AD which refers to our dedication as the church of SS Febric and Iarmen. If we can find out more detail we'll let you know!

Ordination Anniversaries

Congratulations are given to all those celebrating their anniversaries at this time. Some will be in higher figures than others! ALL are a sign and a cause for celebration and thanksgiving. From London Pilmlico, St Gabriel for Fr. Luke's 10 yrs (preacher Fr. Jeremy Winston of Abergavenny 30 yrs) and secondly from Cardiff, St. Martin Roath for Fr. Irving's 25 yrs ( preacher Fr. Richard Williams 27 yrs of Hay-on-Wye...see his dog Jimmy at the altar rail!) Here are some souvenir photos and happy times and joyous Masses of thanksgiving I have recently had the joy to attend. So important to engage with and support all Anglican traditionalist clergy at this time in prayer presence and solidarity. Thanks be to God for these and all our vocations and for the grace to follow the sometimes uncertain path of life and faith. In the hope that we will never give up on the day to day tasks that need to be achieved in the name of Jesus Christ who is our witness and knows what we do and what we do not do. May we follow his example and strive not to BE served  but to serve.

From ruin to ruin in a week!

Despite the title of this post I am upbeat, hopeful and joyful to be sharing the fruits of God's blessings and his gift of the church to the world  especially during these wonderful June days. One might have thought that the reduced numbers at the Glastonbury Pilgrimage last Saturday, the economic gloom and the turmoil in Anglicanism would have dampened resolve and spirits. On the contrary it is more important than ever for traditionalists like us to hold heads up high, to share the inheritance of the saints who even died for the faith we strive to witness to. As Bishop Edwin says in his writing here..http://www.theanglocatholic.com/2010/06/glastonbury/.we owe it to those who have gone before and those who will follow, to stand up and be counted, not in a retiring and despondent way but in the light of the truth and with constant joy. Firstly, the ruins of the great Abbey Church of Glastonbury was the backdrop to a memorable Pilgrimage Mass. I know we were 600 or so communicants and that is low in comparison to years gone by but hey! that's 600 souls joining to worship God together on a precious Saturday in June as Bp. John Ford reminded us. Cause for joy not gloom. The quality of the worship, the obvious devotion of most of those present (with the notable exception of 'the robed voyeur') and the uplifting sermon from Fr. Darren all combined to give new life among that ruin. This ruin is one imposed on the Benedictine church of God by the despoiler of the Catholic church of the people of Britain. But we are there in witness, we have not forgotten the place or the sacrilege which destroys and diminishes life itself.
Secondly, the ruin is of the Abbey Church at Tintern of the Cistercian Order in our neighbouring parish here in Wales. The majority of the photos on this blog are taken by me and this was from last evening on the Summer Solstice on my way back from my secular occupation showing a rental property in the Wye Valley to a new family who would make it their new home. I could not drive by at 7pm without stopping with prayer and camera to mark the beauty, not the ruin where the current tenants are jackdaws but the reminder of what this house of God was like and could have been like today were it not again due to the sacrilege to Christ's body the church and the the abuse of power that reduces it to a mere un prayed-in ruin. Who knows what the British landscape will look like in another few centuries or much much less there will be more ruins for sure. For those struggling with the great re-formation in which we are living, remember, we are not blocks of stone which will one day decay. We are living stones, we go where the Shepherd leads us unburdened by materials and set fee in faith to go where ever the Master is calling us and His Church. Even in these blessed lands in which we have the privilege to live and pray and minister and die and where we hope in a resurrection when all will be revealed in Glory if, if we remain faithful, humble and above all joyful even surrounded as we are on this earth by decay, ruin and imperfection.Thank God for his gift of life and faith and above all the will to worship, to pray and to witness joyfully, sustained by the sacraments of truth by the priceless jewel of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. If it becomes not truly Apostolic it can surely never be truly His church?!

Pilgrimage

We are now looking forward to the annual pilgrimage to Glastonbury Abbey THIS SATURDAY JUNE 19TH..These pictures are from the '07 pilgrimage. There's lots to do for the children (their activities begin at 10am) my own 12 ans 13 year old daughters love the day out and the uplifting procession(11.45) and outdoor Mass in glorious weather( the forecast is good!) in glorious setting. Many pilgrims now come from Wales for the day, as a day trip to the national at Walsingham is now too far for many in the traffic. This is a great time to be together for traditionalists and their Bishops. The chief celebrant this year is the new president of the Glastonbury Pilgrimage Association Bishop John Ford of Plymouth and the Additional Curates Society's Fr. Darren Smith gives the Homily this year. Bring your picnic and see you there!! To find out more here is the link to the GPA site.http://www.glastonburypilgrimage.com/index.html

Music as Prayer

 If I get asked by people when they are going through a difficult time and are not able to pray what do they do, I sometimes reply let others do the praying for them. At other times I suggest prayer through music. This is listening, not forcing oneself to speak when prayer of the soul becomes difficult. In these days of the Pentecost season there are many musical meditations on the 'Veni Creator', come Holy Spirit a prayer in itself. What better than the masterful Maurice Durufle when needing a little inspiration to be with the Lord without having to speak or ask, prayer is sufficient in the listening if humility is exercised. Here is the magnificent Julian Bewig at the organ for another crisper version of thePrelude Adagio et Chorale Varie sur le Veni Creator Op.4

Corpus Christi

These are the trumpet stops of the organ at St. Martin's. I Had a wonderful day on Sunday for the feast of Corpus Christi.  At home in the parish church, the Sunday School learnt about and drew a Monstrance, a Pyx and a Sacrament House in learning more of the feast. Then for the Solemn Mass at the Offertory we joined the congregation for the liturgy and took part in the procession of the Blessed Sacrament around the church. In the afternoon I travelled to Cardiff for the Centenary Service of the St. Martin Ward of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament. This took the form of Solemn Vespers, Procession of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction. As you can see from a previous post there is not another Christian place of worship in the whole land that I know of which can hold a candle to St. Martin of Tours, Roath for it's clouds and clouds of burning incense from braziers and thuribles too. All of which is accentuated by the light streaming in from enormous clear glass windows. However, the music too must now be at the highest level even among Cathedrals. This is not a traditional robed choir but an excellent small Liturgical group of singers which gives great sensitivity and more flexibility for specifically sacramental worship.The superb Director of Music and Organist Timothy Hill played brilliantly on the Organ and reveals a true sense of vocation in his interpretation and enhancement of the liturgical moment, be it peaceful Gregorian plainchant or rousing organ works of the French genre. A specially commissioned first performance of the Magnificat by local musician Robert Dishington was a thought provoking and worthy composition to mark the occasion. Other works included music by Piutti, Schmuke and Byrd and ending with the celebratory organ work 'Grande Choeur Dialogue' by Gigout. In short this is nothing short of excellence in worship, to the greater Glory of God and in the finest Anglican tradition, both refined and evolving as a manifestation of living faith. Our thanks and congratulations from those of us who were present must go to Fr. Hamer( who celebrates his 25th. anniversary of Ordination to the priesthood this month), and to his team of MC Dr. David Woolf et al. Not forgetting the erudite address on the theme of 'Presence' by Canon Fr. Stephen Kirk. The Church in Wales can ill afford to ignore the requests, needs and sacramental ministry of like minded traditionalists. Will it listen? Will it act? In all probability No.
 For now from the words of the final Welsh Hymn:
Tydi a wnaeth y wyrth, O! Grist, Fab Duw,
Tydi a roddaist imi flas ar fyw;

You did this mighty deed, Oh! Christ God's son,
You gave me joy anew the race to run;
Your Spirit held and guided me along
Forever more I'll sing the glorious song
I see the beauty now that can survive,
I feel the touch divine that makes alive;
The Alleluia has possessed my soul,
To You, O! Christ, I give my praises all.

Cuckoo!!!

I have today marvelled that the once familiar call of the Cuckoo cuculus canorus has returned to the woods near us for the first time for over fifteen years. If I am honest it was not until it became a rare sound that I became to value him as a favourite, a lost herald of spring, a missing wake-up caller that new life and new growth and hatching life again are with us. A bird of poets and of country dwellers...''This is the weather the cuckoo loves,and so do I; when showers betumble the chestnut spikes,and nestlings fly'' (Thomas Hardy b. 1840).

However, I can't help thinking that nature as life itself can be cruel and random. The cuckoo is in fact parasitic and, remember, lays it's eggs in another's nest for the host bird to hatch. When it does, the huge cuckoo chick often of monster size in comparison even to the foster mother, kicks out all the other small host chicks to a cold end and exhausts the foster mother with a voracious appetite to grow and fledge and well ..take, take take!! Substitute the host bird for traditional catholic Anglicans and the cuckoo for liberal Anglicans and the quota and I could soon begin to change my favour of the parasitic and endless sound of cuckoo, cuckoo cuckoo!! Perhaps it will become rare or even extinct one day, nature has a funny way of selection, not forgetting that all is for The Creator not the creatures to decide! To hear the call ....http://sounds.bl.uk/View.aspx?item=022M-W1CDR0001463-0100V0.xml

  

St. Augustine meets the Welsh Bishops.

We know that the meeting of the Apostle to the English with the Welsh Bishops did not go well. St. Augustine failed to rise from his throne when they entered to meet him in the 603AD after Pope St. Gregory sent him on the mission to Britain in 597AD. One of my favourite walks in the adjoining parish which I take from time to time with my working cocker spaniel (yes we shoot, it is what she is bed for!) is to cross the railway track on foot being careful always to listen for the Cardiff to Gloucester train first with 'Dot' safely on the lead! When we get to the Severn estuary between the two road bridges we get to the Old Passage Quay about two miles further downstream and looking past Black Rock to Aust(named after Augustine) on the other side of the estuary about 3miles away at this point. I imagine the boats putting out with Holy Celtic bishops wrapping themselves in their cloaks and preparing to defend their traditions and their 'patrimony' but being open to the Pope's representative as they honour the successor of Peter but now learn they don't like what they see of his negotiator. Here are some photos of this walk where we encounter lapwing, reed bunting, teal, pochard, heron, mallard, hen harrier, oyster catcher and on the marsh wild samphire. Under the episcopal boats the wild salmon decide to go straight on for the Severn or turn left (North) up the Wye. They disembark on the Bristol side and can't understand why their ancient tradition of the liturgy in Greek and their adherence to the Eastern Churches celebration of Easter can not be continued as has always been so for them.The shape of their tonsure was also at stake! More importantly it had been the cult of the saints that had been their strength and helped see the survival of the British church. Augustine of Canterbury failed but later at the Synod of Whitby(664AD) the conformity with Rome came but in Wales not for another 104 yrs when in 768AD Bp. Elvodug conformed the Welsh church. We have much to draw upon and to learn from in our history. The British Church catholic has always recognised and valued Rome and Peter's successors there. What is our real heritage and destiny? Surely it is obvious!

Pentecost

The Homily for Pentecost followed by a musical meditation on Veni Creator by Maurice Durufle which for me exudes and expounds the seven fold gifts of the Spirit especially...Peace.

Homily.  Pentecost. Today we celebrate the feast of Pentecost or Whitsun on account of the Baptisms in white that are associated with this time. We are in red liturgically today however to mark the coming of the Holy Ghost as tongues of fire on the Apostles. This Holy Spirit is none other than the third person of God the Holy Trinity. When Jesus ascends we are not left desolate or orphaned we have the HS referred to as the Comforter, the Paraclete, The Counsellor, the Advocate who is with us forever. The Holy Spirit first comes to us at our Baptism and remains with us always. He is invoked at Confirmations and Ordinations and at every celebration of the Eucharist. It is God in the third person when invoked that validates the Holy sacraments.

He is referred to in the scriptures and is often represented as wind, fire and as a dove. He is present within us at every waking and sleeping moment, it is through God’s grace that we receive him, we do not earn his presence but rather he is a sign of God’s faithfulness to us and within us. How wonderful this can be for us to know that we are always in receipt of this presence of God. We often refer to this as God’s gift to us the gift of himself the gift of the HS.

In the gospel John tells us that the HS ‘abides with you and he will be in you.’ Also, that ‘He will teach you everything’. And Jesus assures us by telling us ‘do not let your hearts be troubled do not let them be afraid’.

The Church is the bride of Christ and in a special way the Spirit has the church as his domain. Paul says ‘listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches’. In his letter to the church in Galatia in Asia Minor (Turkey) he identifies the gifts of the spirit to those of us in the Church as Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Humility, and Self-control. These attributes are those that are needed now in our world, in our lives, in our parish and in our churches today as much as ever.

When we learn in Acts that each was able to understand everyone in their own language we today marvel that the spread of the Christian religion is, through the power of the HS, worldwide. There are Bible translations in hundreds of different languages including the noble and ancient translation into Welsh; where all of us, Ethiopians, Armenians, Slavs, Africans, Spanish speakers, Nordics, Icelanders, Russians, English and Gallic speakers and all sorts, let alone the Medes and the Parthians et al understanding a common Gospel that we read of in Acts when the New Testament is born. All are able to understand the word of God and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. The Gospel imperative is to again be one, just as God in three persons is one. This can be for us one Church again if we would but release the power of the Holy Spirit which is within each one of us, within me and within you too.

One of the rather odious declarations which the ubiquitous Facebook social web site asks its adherents (and I’m told there are many a Bishop who is a member!) is, are you in a relationship? And then it gives you the box to tick as to your relationship status, single, married, in a relationship and with whom etc. The question we as Christians might ask ourselves today is, irrespective of our personal situation in the world as single, married, widowed, or whatever, what is my relationship with God? If we should want to know that we are valued, comforted, not orphaned or left lonely we could today invoke the power of The Holy Spirit on this His day and change the course of our whole lives and by invoking Him for someone else we know who is in need of God’s love, their whole life too. Am I committed, am I faithful, am I happy to be seen with my beloved? Am I prepared to return the love which is freely given to me? Am I ‘in a relationship’? The one with God which will prove to be the lasting one, the true one, the eternal one which will save me?

The miracle of this Easter season which now draws to a close is that the divine mystery of Father, Son and Holy Spirit can transform, empower and fulfil us as we daily strive to overcome all the vagaries of this transitory life and begin anew to celebrate this gift of new and holy life, to acknowledge this magnificent gift of God the HS.

 May His power in the warmth of wind and fire and in the discernment of tongues and in the power of His presence moving in this place and uniting all the churches, give us grace to realise the gifts of joy and peace and love and patience, kindness and goodness now and always, Alleluia! Amen. +

Pipe Organ Chartres Cathedral Duruflé "Veni Creator" (2)

Alleluia!!

This is the day of the Lord let us rejoice and be glad in it! At last we have arrived at the feast of the Resurrection, the Vigil and the Mass of Easter Day proclaim the bodily resurrection of the Lord. In the words of the Exultet.

Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing, choirs of angels! 

Exult, all creation around God's throne!

Jesus Christ, our King is risen!

Sound the trumpet of salvation!

Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendor,

radiant in the brightness of your King!

Christ has conquered!  Glory fills you!

Darkness vanishes forever!

Rejoice, O Mother Church!  Exult in glory!

The risen Savior shines upon you!

Let this place resound with joy,

echoing the mighty song of all God's people!

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give him thanks and praise.

It is truly right

that with full hearts and minds and voices

we should praise the unseen God,

the all-powerful Father,

and his only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. For Christ has ransomed us with his blood,

and paid for us the price of Adam's sin

to our eternal Father!

This is our passover feast,

when Christ, the true Lamb, is slain,

whose blood consecrates the homes of all believers.

This is the night when first you saved our fathers:

you free the people of Israel from their slavery

and led them dry-shod through the sea.

This is the night when Christians everywhere,

washed clean of sin

and freed from all defilement,

are restored to grace and grow together in holiness.

This is the night when Jesus Christ

broke the chains of death

and rose triumphant from the grave.

What good would life have been to us,

had Christ not come as our Redeemer?

Father, how wonderful your care for us!

How boundless your merciful love!

To ransom a slave

you gave away your Son.

O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam,

which gained for us so great a Redeemer!

Most blessed of all nights, chosen by God

to see Christ rising from the dead!

Of this night scripture says:

"The night will be as clear as day;

it will become my light, my joy."

The power of this holy night

dispels all evil, washes guilt away,

restores lost innocence, brings mourners joy;

it casts out hatred, brings us peace,

and humbles earthly pride.

Night truly blessed when heaven is wedded to earth

and we are reconciled with God!

Therefore, heavenly Father, in the joy of this night,

receive our evening sacrifice of praise,

your Church's solemn offering.

Accept this Easter candle,

a flame divided but undimmed,

a pillar of fire that glows to the honor of God.

Let it mingle with the lights of heaven

and continue bravely burning

to dispel the darkness of this night!

May the morning Star which never sets

find this flame still burning:

Christ, that Morning Star, who came back from the dead,

and shed his peaceful light on us all,

your Son who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Amen.

In Limbo

Amid the unpleasant reporting, unhelpful comment by a Bishop in God's church who knows (as a Diocesan) we are not without blame too and the sickening cartoons in the Times, we must remember that Christ and his Church are no strangers to the onslaughts of the Evil One. The Harrowing of Hell goes on today and everyday. The Good News on all this will be revealed this very night, heralded by new fire, new light. A chance to burn those words and images in newspapers on this fire presents itself. Let's use the opportunity!

Good Friday

Here we are on the last part of our Lenten Journey. These are photos of today. The Altar of Repose this morning after last night's Watch and the Way of the Cross bravely attempted and achieved up the steep and slippery slope of the Wyndcliff Walk to the Eagles Nest look-out in the Wye Valley. 600ft above sea level within the parish. A walk of the faithful depleted in numbers due to the lashing storm of wind and 5C rain. But as we were reminded our Celtic Christian forbears would have been proud of us! Thanks to lamination the readings and meditations were possible and all was 'accomplished'. Save us and help us we humbly beseech Thee O Lord.

Persecution

If we do and read nothing else on the abuse scandal this Holy Week we could do no better than  firstly pray for the Holy Father and secondly read this http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/andrewmcfbrown/100031761/why-cant-the-media-treat-the-pope-fairly/ Then perhaps try and expose the way the media and large national companies abuses the young everyday through it's exploitation of their innocence by hard selling, advertising and marketing methods that have no recourse to ethical standards of behaviour or reporting whatsoever. Praying also for those few brave journalists and advertising people who are prepared to apply the lost arts of logic, philosophy, reason, the search for truth and  proportionality to a screaming world that revolves around quick sound bites and a lemming-like ability to get it wrong 'if it sells and gets a snigger'. The biblical reference that comes to mind is of swine going over cliffs perhaps.....

The Passion of Jesus Christ

Here is the musical meditation for the Passion of Jesus Christ.

Chrism Mass

Some thoughts on the Chrism Mass which was celebrated today at Holy Nativity Church, Bristol, UK. The Bishop of Ebbsfleet welcomed us Welsh pilgrims currently orphaned of a Father in God (although our retired 'father' Bp. David was there at the altar and despite some health problems in fine form). Apart from the mobile ring tone of Bp. Andrew going off at noon for the Angelus (therefore very forgiveable) it went without a hitch!! There were 60 priests robed (about 26 Welsh) plus some further 18 priests in the congregation of around 360 faithful. A moving and poignant occasion not least because it will be the last for many as Church of England and Church in Wales Anglicans. One doubts that there will be another of this type and scale again. Thanks to the 'pastoral care' of the bench of Welsh Bishops and the soon to follow-suit diktats of the General Synod this will not happen again on this scale if at all. But we were not sad, not defeated, quite the opposite. In the words of S. David 'be joyful keep the faith' was in our hearts. There is a lovely air of caravan moving through the desert atmosphere at the moment. For what can we fear if we know that the call of God is with us. The things not of God will not have any fears for us and each will discern what the Spirit is saying to him and his vocation. Is it real? Is it of God? Where am I being called to decide on my future place in Your Kingdom? Our vows renewed, the Holy oils and the oil of gladness replenished we are now fortified for now by Holy Church to fight the world, our sins and the devil to proclaim the wonders of salvation won for us by the crucifixion of Christ in these coming days of Holy Week and the resurrection festival of mighty Easter, when soon we will be able to proclaim the 'A' word from the rooftops again! New hope, new spring, new dawn. Perhaps the most beautiful words of the season other than the forthcoming Exultat are these from the consecration prayer of the Holy Chrism the Bishop having movingly breathed three times the breath of the Holy Spirit onto the oil soon to become Holy Chrism.

God our maker, source of all growth in holiness, accept the joyful thanks and praise we offer in the name of your Church. In the beginning, at your command, the earth produced fruit-bearing trees.

From the fruit of the olive tree you have provided us with oil for holy chrism. The prophet David sang of the life and joy that the oil would bring us in the sacraments of your love.  

After the avenging flood, the dove returning to Noah with an olive branch announced your gift of peace. This was a sign of a greater gift to come. Now the waters of baptism wash away the sins of men, and by the anointing with olive oil you make us radiant with your joy.

At your command, Aaron was washed with water, and your servant Moses, his brother, anointed him priest. This too foreshadowed greater things to come. After your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, asked John for baptism in the waters of Jordan, you sent the Spirit upon him in the form of a dove and by the witness of your own voice you declared him to be your only, well-beloved Son. In this you clearly fulfilled the prophecy of David, that Christ would be anointed with the oil of gladness beyond his fellow men.  

And so, Father, we ask you to bless + this oil you have created. Fill it with the power of your Holy Spirit through Christ your Son. It is from him that chrism takes its name and with chrism you have anointed for yourself priests and kings, prophets and martyrs. 

Make this chrism a sign of life and salvation for those who are to be born again in the waters of baptism. Wash away the evil they have inherited from sinful Adam, and when they are anointed with this holy oil make them temples of your glory, radiant with the goodness of life that has its source in you. 

Through this sign of chrism grant them royal, priestly, and prophetic honor, and clothe them with incorruption. Let this be indeed the chrism of salvation for those who will be born again of water and the Holy Spirit. May they come to share eternal life in the glory of your kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

Christ Our Future 2000.

Do you remember that amazing day on 10th June 2000 when over 800 priests 40 Bishops and Ten Thousand faithful celebrated the 'Christ Our Future' Millennium Mass at the London Arena? I'll never forget the joy, the singing and the optimism of it all! The chief celebrant was Archbishop Hope of York and the Bishop of London preached. Sadly not many of those Bishops or Priests and Deacons will now be travelling in the same direction or at the same time as we did when we all united on that great day. But the power and the guidance of The Holy Spirit from that occasion surely continues to breathe and ignite the Anglican catholic movement these ten years later and in ways which we only would have dreamt of then. I hoped that there might be a marking of the tenth anniversary of that magnificent day with something similar but now Christ our future is, even better, calling us through Benedict XVI to celebrate our catholicity as Anglicans from all over the world and in great numbers too, at another venue. This time the procession will lead not to London but to the mother church in Rome! Those dockland martyr priests who fought the fight for the Anglican church to recover her Catholic roots will surely be there, and watching over, to greet us. Here is the prayer we prayed for three whole years leading up to the great Millennium Mass, who can deny that prayers get answered and often in unexpected ways!!


Father all-powerful, creator of all things, judge of the living and the dead, you have raised our Lord Jesus Christ from death to life, resplendent in glory as the King of all the ages. Open our hearts to Christ who is our Future; free the whole world to rejoice in his peace, to glory in his justice, and to be made new in the power of his love, who lives and reigns.....Amen.