I suppose many of us who went through the traditional (old school) reception of the Sacraments of Initiation were baptised as Babies, Made their First Confession and First Communion in Primary 3, and, were Confirmed in Primary 6 or 7.

It doesn’t seem too long ago when things changed. The children of our schools and parishes made their First Communion and recieved Confirmation a little older in age (whilst still in Primary School) during 1 Liturgy and all Sacraments were confered by a Senior Priest of the Diocese or indeed, the Parish Priests.

Well, in one Diocese anyway, it would appear to be changing. A reverting back to the way it was.

Read this Pastoral Message here from Bishop Tartaglia, the Bishop of Paisley.

My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Following much thought, prayer and a consultation with the authorities in Rome which are responsible for the way we celebrate the Sacraments (the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments), I have decided to separate First Holy Communion from Confirmation.

So, as from school session 2008-2009, Children in P4 will make their First Confession and First Holy Communion as normal. When these same children reach P7, they will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.

In so doing, my intention is to simplify the Mass of First Holy Communion, to extend the process of the children’s Christian initiation and to create a greater focus on Confirmation towards the end of Primary School before the children begin at secondary school. Confirmation will ordinarily be celebrated by the bishop.

I think this will be better for the children’s religious development and allow a more measured approach to religious education and preparation for the Sacraments through the years of Primary School.

In the meantime, very little needs to change in regard to First Confession and First Holy Communion.

I am very well aware of the immense amount of hard work and preparation which went into implementing the process currently in use in our diocese. Important lessons have been learned from that experience and from that practice which we must carry into our new way of celebrating the Sacraments. I am confident that a similar level of commitment and preparation will lead to even more worthy and joyful celebrations of these important Sacraments in our parish communities.

My Office will begin working with parishes and schools to prepare the children for Confirmation for school session 2010-2011.

May God bless you.

Yours devotedly in Christ,

+Philip Tartaglia

Bishop of Paisley

June 2008

Tip of the hat to Mark of Rise and Pray for his updates on the Canonical Situation of the SSPX.

First of all, THANKS BE TO GOD that the Community of Transalpine Redemporists living at their Monastery on Papa Stronsay have had the situation regarding their long term suspension remedied.  These Priests and Brothers were followers of Archbishop Lebvefre who lead his faithful into a irregular / schismatic situation. by ordaining his own Bishops.

Mark has also let us know that we can await more news soon (maybe?) on the outstanding Excommunications of the rest of the SSPX being lifted.

If this is the way it looks, then, things could be nothing short of historical.

But, it is not over yet.

So we still need to keep praying about this.

That they all may be one.

Well, there you have it then.

If it’s on youtube, it must be true.

 

A recent discussion at work has left me with a lot to think about. It wasn’t to do with work, rather, it was a chat about a Priest and what we’ll call “a situation”.

It would appear that, once upon a time, Mr. and Mrs. McBlogs (both good RC’s) were in what appeared to be a happy, regular marriage with offspring.

Then, then tragic news came about that Mr. McBlogs had, for a period of time, been having a clandestine affair with another woman under the guise of - suprise, surprise - business trips away from home. Mr. McBlogs and the lady in question decide to persue this illicit relationship further and the McBlogs’ marriage splits up - much to Mrs. McBlogs’ anguish.

In order to protect her financial wellbeing and the stability of bringing up the little McBlogs, a divorce is obtained. Mrs McBlogs has remained single, whilst Mr. Blogs and his female chum go and get hitched in a Civil Ceremony.

*Enter stage Left Fr. McPriest*

Father McPriest is a friend of the extended Family and belongs to an Order as opposed to being a Secular / Diocesan cleric. At an appointed time, Mr McBlogs assembles his family in a Hotel to celebrate the wedding (sic) and to have Fr. McPriest bless it (even sic-er). Did we mention the new Mrs McBlogs was a divorcee? Oh..and no Canonical Declarations of Nulity were being craved regarding the first marriages of both parties? Just before the meal and speeches, Fr. McPriest (who has been flown in from abroad) gets “alb and stole’d up” and earns his keep by saying a few words, leading prayers and imparting a blessing upon those hungry present and the couple in question.

I’m left wondering what impression the first Mrs. McBloggs is left under. What does she think of a Priest attending this and indeed participating as a Priest in such a charade that arose from sin? What signal does this send out? That, although the new marriage wasn’t valid in the eyes of the church, it was still willing to play a bit part and bless something that caused her so much pain?

And as for Rent-a-priest? Well, my educated guess is that his actions were illicit too. I’d also be keen to know what the local PP, VG, and indeed Ordinary would have to say, never mind his Religious Superior.

A sham of the Highest Order.

 

This week,  I shall be mostly switching my phone off.

Yes, the Diocese of Eboshire wends it’s way to Lourdes on it’s annual pilgrimage, minus one Brancardier who has to stay at home thanks to reforms in the way bad boys and girls get their wrists slapped by the State.

A friend of mine leaves tonight by coach, chasing “le jeunes” who left yesterday by “autobus”.

The pilgrimage flight leaves on Friday, and, some of the former Brancs who have embraced fatherhood (or are about to) are even traipsing along on Monday for a few days.

And, as we say in Eboshire, “am urnae”.

So, my friends have been instructed NOT to phone me at any time, especially when they are standing beneath a speaker on the Esplanade during the Credo, Tantum Ergo or Salve Regina. Non-liturgically, this ruling also extends to Albert’s pub during Flower of Scotland, The Wild Rover or Let the People Sing. (There’s a bright shiny farthing for any young blogger who can guess just who it was that started the tradition of phoning the “left behind” (sic) via mobile phone at the times and places his mates would have enjoyed best.)

Anyway, may God bless all the pilgrims and grant them a safe journey. May the enjoy and a happy, holy, grace filled pilgrimage.

And may his Holy Lightening also strike down the phone masts in the Tarbes / Lourdes /Pau area.

 

From you know where……

Well, you all might as well know why my posting here has became less frequent. There is a new lady in my life. In true “hey, just call me Ebo so nobody really knows who i am” fashion, we’ll call her Miss Pythagoras.

Last night was the night that she had been warning me about for a few weeks. I would be cautioned, interrogated, lamps would be shone in my face and high pitched squeals played through earphones if  Ianswered a question incorrectly.

Yes, it was time for me to meet her parents, Aunts and Uncles for the first time.

The setting was in the safe confines of a parish fund raising night and we had a ball. Helping them to win the quiz did me no harm whatsoever and we had a really good laugh together. Nice people, and I have just learned that I passed the Board with flying colours.

And now, Miss Pythagoras has the sequal to look forward too.

Given our family’s love for the sequal movie in question and of Fr. Ted too, perhaps we should call it “Meet the Feckers”?

I was sent this today - so some may have seen it already.

It purports to show a detachment of Peoples’ Liberation Army troops carrying Buddhist robes, just before they changed into them and staged a riot.

Once can only guess that it was for some rabble rousing or staged for the cameras for negative spin.

Pathetic.

 

From the all singing, all dancing, new look CWA.

It’s been strange, but, the way in which I’ve been praying and what I have been praying for have changed these past few months.

I’ve noticed that it’s been months since I’ve used Praystation Portable to listen and pray along with on my travels to and from work. In it’s place have been my favourite prayers from memory, a morning offering (which i had fallen out of habit saying) and petitioning particular Saints for their prayers and intercession.

 In speaking to the Lord, I’ve found I have been asking him more. Not neccessarily for  more, but at times to give me a sign or a pointer about things personal to me, whereas before, i’d sought this help only about work and not really about my me life.

This appears to be suiting me better and it’s no coincidence that these prayers are bearing fruit - in particular in directions where i just wouldn’t have went in life before had i not been prompted to by the Lord’s hand.

I suppose it’s a sense of feeling blessed where I am just now.