BBC - at it again! The rise of paganism...

The BBC’s 10 O’clock News broadcast an item this evening about the rise of Paganism in the British Isles. It was a bizarre report, to say the least. I guess that the fact it was the Winter Solstice today gave grounds to have this item. It was not objective, though. On the contrary, it seemed to openly celebrate the fact that “a record number of pagans celebrated the Winter Solstice” today.

The journalist who compiled this report was Robert Pigott, who is meant to be one of the BBC’s leading lights. In fact, to be fair to the journalist, the reporting wasn’t as bad as the madness that was being highlighted – even if he did try and make these characters seem not only sane, but good!

The item started with a few bedraggled “pagans” (this term wasn’t explained) processing through some field or playground, blowing horns and wearing fake antlers and what seemed to be bin liners. It looked as if this “religious ceremony” had been dreamed up after the last “spliff” during a night of watching The Wicker Man and / or those films based on JRR Tolkien novels. The reporter announced that these people were “celebrating the darkest time of the year” and that pagans like these had been doing the same for five millennia! Five minutes, more like! The impression was definitely given that modern “paganism” (which has no connection to ancient cults and religious superstitious practices of the past) was more authentically British than Christianity – having been here longer.

Of course, anyone with an ounce of a brain would know that this is nonsense. Modern paganism is a load of cobblers dreamed up in the 1970s which tried to hijack another load of cobblers dreamed up in the late 18th Century, by the likes of Iolo Morganwg and others. The ceremonies of the modern bardic druids, i.e. those created by the romantic eccentrics of the 1700s, were mainly based on fantasy, myth, and Masonic rituals. We know hardly anything at all about the religious practices of the ancient druids of Britain, bar that they were obsessed with the human head, were concerned with oral traditions and laws, worshipped in sacred groves, were extremely patriarchal, and based the priesthood within a warrior class system. The other things we know about these characters are that they indulged in warmongering and human sacrifices! Compared to the religions of Rome and Greece, which were more advanced and focused on the State, early pagans tended to be theologically and philosophically backward and very localised. In fact, the term “pagan” comes from the Roman word for those ignorant peoples who dwelt in the countryside, as opposed to the “civilised” of the cities.

The BBC report then went on to highlight the Edwards’ family. They had, apparently, rejected Christianity for being too “hierarchical” and for holding “inflexible doctrines”. In other words, they didn’t like the Truth – which is always inflexible, it does not change because it clashes with our feelings! The item moved on to show Mr Edwards describe how he could “feel” energies around him, and felt more connected to the earth, etc! Feelings – the first step on the road to nonsense and the irrational, and the food of the relativist and those who worship the ego above God - the “I AM”. So the message seemed clear – if you don’t like the truth, but want to feel that you belong to a religious community, just become a “pagan”!

The truth is that most druids, being the good Celtic war-lords that they were, would have slaughtered these fake Saxons before they’d had time to play the first few bars on their Pentangle CD! Good old-fashioned Saxon pagans would have had no time for hippy nonsense, lesbian rights, and being zoned-out – they’d have been busy being men and women, in a very traditional and conservative, hierarchical and class-ridden, and violent society. Christianity’s emphasis on love was seen as weakness by these old pagans. The strange thing is that Robert Piggot went on to say that pagans feel a desire to make sense of “the natural order” and to defend this order of nature from changes! How very conservative – will they be backing a reinstating of hunting foxes (just in time for the Boxing Day meet)? The natural order is, of course, extremely hierarchical – so what, I wonder, do the Edwards’ make of that? This order is also grounded in the unchanging and necessary laws that bind it together. These laws of nature are the very ones that hippies and “modern pagans” seek to destroy through their permissive support of homosexuality. As St Paul said, in his letter to the Romans, pagans seem to pretend to care for nature by making a false idol of it. They replace God with their narcissistic concept of what the “Natural Order” is. By doing this they give themselves permission to “do whatever feels right”, which is how they exchanged the truth for a lie – nature becomes an anthropomorphic fallacy. This is why God let them get on with it, to the point that the natural order became so corrupted and inverted that the old pagans of St Paul’s day became obsessed with unnatural sexual relations, to the point of addiction (an enslavement to falsehood).

Of course, for these modern pagans, who are I believe well meaning (but the path to falshood is paved with good intentions!), the natural order they seek to protect is all in line with the “Climate Change myth”. It’s much easier to concentrate on an over-hyped and hysterical apocalyptic disaster, created by “evil men” (the other), than on other threats to the laws and proper ordering of nature. In fact, the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, spoke about this in his Christmas address last year. He warned that, as good as it is to be concerned about environmental issues (and there's nothing wrong in wanting a clean and healthy environment), there is another threat to nature – the promotion and acceptance of that which is unnatural and contrary to Divine and Natural laws, i.e. gender-bending! If pagans are so concerned about the former they should therefore be just as concerned about the latter. This isn’t the case, though. Why? Well, the whole “climate change” campaign (and neo-paganism) is just a smoke-screen for a much deeper and more threatening, unnatural and devious, liberal agenda – one which stands against all that is good and holy, all that is true. Love cannot be love without truth – it does not need “feelings”, just a simple act of the will: to do what is right, even if we feel it might upset people who want to bend the laws of nature. It amazes me that the most vociferous climate change / environmental campaigners are actually the ones who leave the largest “carbon footprint” – 40,000 people went to Copenhagen to save the planet from “carbon”, leaving one enormous carbon footprint behind! The funniest thing, though, was that the green protestors outside the conference last week decided to burn things in protest! That really helped global pollution!

The news item finished by showing the inter-faith gathering of Wiccans, Pagans, and Druids celebrating Yuletide! It also claimed that there are pagan groups in every town in Britain, and that this new religious movement (or cult) is one of the fastest growing sects in Britain! I wonder if these poor, misguided neo-pagans will be joining Odin this year on his Wild Hunt, or joining in a drunken orgy to prove the “fertility” of their Yule log!?

UPDATE - Please see: Pagans to the left of us... (but beware of the strange comments!)

Benedict’s UK Extravaganza!

Details are beginning to emerge about the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Britain next year. He will not be staying in Buckingham Palace (but at the Nunciature in Wimbledon), and neither will he receive a State Banquet or be driven along the Mall in a golden horse-drawn carriage. Apparently, the decision to do away with the pomp and circumstance was made by the Vatican. The visit will remain a State visit, but a kind of “Second Class” one – with less fuss and more emphasis on the Pope’s pastoral role, as opposed to his status as Head of State. It’s a bit of a shame, really, as I know quite a few people were looking forward to seeing His Holiness receive all the trimmings and trappings of honour that we British can bestow upon our guests.

Pope Benedict will be in the UK from 16 – 19 September 2010. One of these days will be spent in Scotland, were he is expected to meet the Queen – who will be on holiday, as always at that time of year, in Balmoral. I guess it will be nicer for His Holiness to meet Queen Elizabeth amidst the bucolic settings of this castle. It is were Her Majesty feels most at home and relaxed, and the scenery will probably remind the Pope of his beloved Bavaria.

The Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales is drawing up the rest of his schedule – so let’s hope they manage to arrange fitting venues that are accessible to all the faithful. There has been talk that Pope Benedict will celebrate the Mass for the Beatification of Cardinal Newman in Coventry airport!! This is just bizarre, and most unsuitable. It might have been OK for John Paul II to mess about in aeroplane hangers – but not Benedict! Thankfully, it does seem that the Mass of Beatification will not be celebrated in the Birmingham Oratory (though they might have the Pope over for Vespers). I think that the Ven. John Henry has shown the world what he thinks to this place which used to be so close to his heart. First of all he did not turn up to take his rest in the over-the-top sarcophagus they’d built for him, and secondly he sent them a permanent deacon (how ‘unreform of the reform’ can you get!?), whom he had specifically healed, to preach at Mass! It appears that the Provost at the Birmingham Oratory, Fr Paul Chavasse, has stepped down. He acted as Postulator for Newman’s Cause for many years – you may make of that what you will.

It has been known for some time that His Holiness plans to lecture at Westminster Hall, standing on the spot where St Thomas More was condemned to death. He will also lecture at Oxford University. He will address our errant politicians in the one place, and our spurious academics in the other! Once I find out more regarding the visit, and its planned events and venues, I will be sure to let you know.

One thing I do know, regarding an earlier post (Ego et Walli mei), is that the Mass planned for 17th July to celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of St John Roberts won’t be a Mass. It seems this event is going to be an ecumenical service. The preacher will probably not be a Welsh bishop – but rather the Archbishop of Canterbury. This gesture might prove a bit embarrassing – seeing that the Saint died celebrating the Catholic Mass, in communion with the See of Rome! Having said this, it does seem that Rowan Williams is now beginning to take a more positive stand on modernist issues – much to the disappointment of “gay liberationists” and feminist theologians!

[Picture note: Coventry Airport - could you see Pope Benedict celebrating the Sacred Mysteries there?; source: Wikimedia Commons]

Ego et Walli mei*

St John Roberts, whose feast day was on the 10th, is a saint I have a particular devotion to. His life connects to mine in so many different ways that he provides special inspiration for me. We were both born in the ancient Diocese of Bangor – though he was born in 1575 and I came into the world 400 years later. We became Catholics at a young age. He, like me, went to Valladolid to test a vocation to the priesthood. Both of us were attracted to the Benedictine ideal, and left the seminary – he followed what was a monastic vocation, I haven’t got that far, yet! He was one of the founders of the community, which is now Downside Abbey, and I have known a few of the community over the years. St John spent the latter part of his life in London, where I am now. His place of imprisonment is just round the corner from where my flat is. He was martyred at Tyburn – a place I often go to, seeking his prayers and help.

John Roberts was born into a Welsh family in Trawsfynydd. His parents were called John and Anna, and they seemed to have been the local landowners at Rhiw Goch^. In fact, it is possible that John was descended from Welsh nobility, and it is certain that he receiveded a good preliminary education. Indeed, it is thought that one of his early teachers was a former monk from the nearby Cymmer Abbey, and that this man instilled in him a sense of Catholic identity. John Roberts continued his studies at Oxford and then at one of the Inns of Court. It was after his studies, during a visit to Paris with a friend, that he decided to be reconciled to the old faith. Within a few years he risked all in order to study to become a priest for the home mission and, for this reason, entered the Royal English College at Valladolid in 1598.

John didn’t stay long in the College at Valladolid. In fact he’d left before the academic year was out. Whist living there I remember reading that St John Roberts had complained of the food on offer at the College, and cited this as one reason why he decided to leave. Another factor might have been his ever so slightly fractious relationship with the Rector - who would one day be a martyr-saint himself. In fact, the truth of the matter is that John felt a deep sense of vocation to the religious life, and to the monastic ideal in particular. Like so many other Welshmen the concepts of simplicity, silence, penance, and the holiness of the cloister held him captive. The Benedictine Abbey at Valladolid was relatively close to the College – one can walk there quite easily in less than half an hour**. So, having made up his mind, John entered the religious life there in 1599 – though moved to Santiago de Compostela to complete his noviciate. [As an aside, there is a wonderful portrait of St John Roberts hanging in the Royal English College at Valladolid. It is a powerful work of art, and had quite a mysterious grip on me whenever I walked past it – and it was such a great grace to be able to call on his prayers before this sacred image.]

After being ordained a priest on St Stephen’s Day, 1602, John Roberts returned to England and dedicated himself to covert missionary work. Some might think this was a bit of an odd thing for a professed Benedictine to do, yet, to a man familiar with the old British Saints of Wales (who were, on the whole, missionary hermit-monks), this form of monastic life seemed perfectly natural and necessary. He would have known that re-entering Britain to preach the Catholic truth would probably lead to a martyr’s crown. Not only would John have to contend with plague and poverty during his missionary work, but he also had to evade the tyrannical grasp of the Crown and its network of spies. On several occasions he was arrested and exiled – yet, back he came, to minister amongst the poor and persecuted Catholic population of London. During one of his banishments John became the first prior of the new English Benedictine foundation at Douai – it was this monastic community which was later to become the great Abbey of St Gregory’s at Downside (now famous both as a monastery and school).

Like so many other missionary priests of the time, St John constantly came back from exile to serve the people of this country – even in the face of death. In fact, it seemed that the prospect of martyrdom might have been a motivation for his persistent returns to England. Also, like others before and after him, including St John Southworth, he was kept for long periods as a prisoner at the Gatehouse in Westminster. This was the old prison attached to Westminster Abbey, and served as a semi-open prison where inmates could sometimes come and go. Many Catholic priests were kept at this place, and therefore ministered to the local community amongst the marshes and squalor of what was a very dangerous and criminal area of the city. In 1609, though, St John Roberts was arrested, having escaped from the Gatehouse, and placed in the hellish Newgate Prison. Thanks to the appeals of the French Ambassador he was spared death, and exiled to France where he returned to his beloved Benedictine community – before, of course, returning once more to preach the Gospel in Protestant England!

St John Roberts was finally arrested, celebrating Mass, on 2 December 1610. He was taken to Newgate still dressed in his vestments. He was unjustly tried within three days and was executed five days later, on 10 December 1610. He suffered the horrendous torment of being hanged, drawn and quartered – though, due to the affection of the crowd (who knew all about his pastoral care of the poor and dispossessed of Westminster), he was spared the more gruesome horrors of this punishment. The people at Tyburn that day, overcome with grief, remained silent at the execution - there was definitely no rejoicing, even in Protestant England, at the death of this Welsh Catholic hero. His body was taken back to his monastery, St Gregory’s in Douai, but was lost during the French Revolution – as happened to St John Southworth’s remains. John Southworth’s body, though, was rediscovered in the 1920s, and returned to Westminster Cathedral. All we have of St John Roberts are a few relics, which are mainly to be found at Downside Abbey, the Catholic Church at Gellilydan (Trawsfynydd), and Tyburn Convent.

Next year will be the 400th Anniversary of St John Roberts’ martyrdom, and celebrations began on his Feast Day this week. A special Mass was held in Dolgellau, led by the Bishop of Wrexham, Edwin Regan. A friend of mine was amongst the celebrants – a Welsh hermit-monk called Fr David Jones (who wrote the setting for the Mass, and has published poems on the Saint). In July 2010 a Solemn Mass will be celebrated at Westminster Cathedral – partly in Welsh – to commemorate St John Roberts, who spent so much of his time ministering to the people in that part of London. Apparently, it seems that both the Archbishops of Canterbury and Westminster, and the Mayor of London, will be at this event. My guess is, though, that one of the Welsh bishops will preach – maybe Rt Rev Edwin Regan? I really hope to be at this Mass – where, amongst other things, Lord Dafydd Ellis-Thomas will unveil a mosaic of St David. During this time there will also be a special Welsh pilgrimage to Tyburn!

St John Roberts, gweddia drosom ni!

* “I and my Welshmen,” the words of Dom Leander Jones – co-founder, with St John Roberts, of St Gregory’s Douai – to the Benedictine Abbot Caverel. He used this phrase to describe his monastic community.
^Rhiw Goch is the Welsh for Red Hill – what an appropriate name for the home of a future Martyr-Saint.
** This Abbey church no longer belongs to the Benedictines, but (I think) is now under the care of the Augustinians.

[Picture note: St John Roberts, from the painting at the Royal English College, Valladolid. Source: www.trawsfynydd.com]

Bishop to Queen Four…

It was six years today that Bishop Kevin McDonald became Archbishop of Southwark. At the time I remember thinking that this was a mistake. My main concern was that this prelate had been promoted far too quickly – he’d only been bishop of Northampton for two years. Plato’s words came to mind, which are often quoted by Bishop Edwin Regan (though with emphasis on one God): “When men make plans, the gods laugh!” When Bishop Kevin was elevated to the See of Southwark one was left wondering why God would humiliate Northampton’s Catholics in such a way – making it seem as if Rome viewed their diocese as a mere stepping-stone? Some thought that the move was a rather medieval mockery of the episcopacy, making a bishop seem too much of a Prince and not enough of a Pastor (a real pastor would surely wish to look after his sheep for longer than two years!?). Many wondered whether Rome was too keen to advance the career of someone who wasn’t that well known, and it looked as if clerical ambition was rearing its ugly head once more. Priests often forget that the greatest amongst us must be a servant to all, and should be the least of his brothers. Having met Kevin McDonald, though, it seems quite obvious that this man has a very humble soul. I’m sure he was just as bemused by his sudden rise through the episcopacy as the rest of us.

Well, unfortunately for Archbishop Kevin, the gods did seem to laugh, cruelly! Four days ago the Pope accepted his resignation – on the grounds of ill health. Since being installed at St George’s he suffered from severe infirmity – so much so as not to have been as effective as the last Pope (who appointed him) might have wished him to be. Having endured osteo-arthritis and heart problems he failed to leave his mark on the Diocese. Indeed, the Archbishop spent most of last year on sick-leave. No-one deserves to suffer like this – but it just goes to show that our human plans, even within the Church, might be very different to what God has in mind! I went to a seminary convinced that God wanted me (yes, hubris, or what!?) to be a priest. I could not have been more certain that this was the path to tread. Yet, after making the move, and abandoning everything to follow Christ, he seemed to call me in a completely different direction! Having to realise that we’re not indispensable takes so much humility as to be quite uncomfortable! It also takes a dash of wisdom to acknowledge that what seems to be God’s will might actually be a precursor to a totally different plan altogether!


Well, moving on from the sad case of the Archbishop of Southwark, let us look forward to the blessing that is Bishop Bernard Longley! What a wonderful man, and a true witness to humility and kindness! A bishop should be, above all else, the pastor of his people – something which this man is obviously keen to be! Well, today Bishop Bernard is becoming the Archbishop of Birmingham, effectively second-in-command in the English Catholic Church. Having worked loyally and quietly in the vineyard that is Westminster, Bernard Longley has shown himself to be a dedicated and trustworthy leader. Birmingham will be blessed to have him. In fact, when I realised that the Archdiocese of Birmingham would need a new bishop, after the translation of Archbishop Nichols, I wrote a letter to His Holiness, the Pope – recommending Bishop Longley for this task. This is something that I don’t often do! But, just before writing the missive I had attended Mass, celebrated by Bishop Bernard, and it seemed obvious that this man should become the next Archbishop of Birmingham. During this Eucharist the words of the psalm came to mind, words which I mentioned in the letter, “Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? The man with clean hands and pure heart, who desires not worthless things.” From what is known of (now) Archbishop Bernard Longley these words are very apt indeed! Ad multos annos!

Let us pray for both men, and for those responsible for finding their replacements. I also think Archbishop Nichols could do with a few prayers today, too, seeing that he’ll be at the Installation of Archbishop Longley this lunchtime, and will be back here to celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception at Farm Street this evening!

[Picture notes: Archbishop Kevin McDonald; Archbishop Bernard Longley]

The 10 o’clock Mass

Christmas will be celebrated in Rome an hour earlier than it will in Jerusalem this year! This is because Pope Benedict has decided to celebrate Midnight Mass at 10pm – so that he gets enough rest before the gruelling Christmas Day schedule. Not a bad idea, really. For some reason, though, various religious commentators have been speculating that this sensible rescheduling is a sign that the Holy Father is gravely ill. Many have pointed out that Pope John Paul II never celebrated this Mass early – even during his final years. Well, what suits one man doesn’t necessarily suit another – and, for all his superman abilities, Pope John Paul II hardly did anything during the last decade of his reign. In fact, bar being wheeled out to wave at people and try his best to speak, his minions and helpers seemed to have been responsible for most of his important work. It could even be argued that Cardinal Ratzinger was the brain behind the throne during those precarious years. John Paul II was ill but, with some embarrassment, refused to believe it – Pope Benedict XVI is a man in his 80s, and, with some wisdom, seems to know it! Children and old people should be tucked up in bed well before midnight…In fact, it could be argued that all good Christians should be in bed before the witching hour! Didn’t the great Apostle say, We are children of the day, not of the night? Now that I’m well into my 30s the prospect of trekking through dark and bitterly cold streets in the middle of the night fills me with dread – it would be much nicer to have a long hibernation and go to the Christmas Day Mass instead! Celebrating the Eucharist isn’t meant to be an endurance test – and a well-rested soul, as opposed to an exhausted one, is far more capable of being truly recollected and prayerful.

Well done, Pope Benedict, for showing us that God usually calls ordinary human beings to extraordinary ministries – supermen are few and far between, and with the benefit of hindsight, their super powers seem a bit unnatural and illusionary.

On the subject of Midnight Mass, one of the security men at Westminster Cathedral told me today that worshippers will not be allowed to stand around the edges and the back this year. If there are no seats left, then “you’re not coming in”! This is a very good idea, as it can get far too crowded in there – which always leads to frayed nerves, anger problems, and real health and safety issues. People should really go to their own parishes – ensuring that the priests who minister to them every week get their Christmas bonus! By the way, if you are unable to get to Midnight Mass (either in your own parish or at said Cathedral) then you’ll be able to watch it live, from Westminster Cathedral, on the BBC.

[Picture note: Pope Benedict XVI, whilst in Brazil, 2007; source: Wikimedia Commons. The Papal colours, white and red, seem to lend themselves well to Christmas!]

Brighton Rock: an update…

Last month I mentioned that the new adaptation of Greene’s Brighton Rock was in the process of being filmed (dir. Ronald Joffe), and that some scenes would be filmed near my flat. Well, yesterday the production team, cast, and crew came and spent the day transforming the area and filming the picture. They were in the local café for quite some time – which looks like something from the 1950s (the book is set in the 30s but this film is going to “update” the novel to 1964). The local Bangladeshi Welfare Centre became a fish & chips’ shop – with “pork sausages” on the special’s menu! For a few hours I was no longer a resident of Page Street in London, but “Regency Street, Brighton”! Anyway, here are a couple of pictures of the event – which I took whilst walking back home from Mass (at the Brompton Oratory – wonderful as ever!)…Which begs the question, I wonder which church they’ll use to film the ecclesiastical scenes?



By the way those scooters were dangerous, and one nearly ran me over!

Prayer is the inner bath of love into which the soul plunges itself*

Yesterday, I went to Mass at the Brompton Oratory and was able to venerate the relics of St Jean-Baptiste Marie Vianney (also commonly known as St Jean Marie Vianney, St John Mary Vianney, and the Curé d’Ars). If you happen to be in London at all during the Year of Priests (until the Feast of the Sacred Heart 2010), it would be well worth making this little pilgrimage.

St Jean Vianney was a French parish priest who ministered to a small town called Ars in the early part of the 19th Century. His parish was literally in the middle of nowhere, yet Jean Marie, within his own lifetime, became internationally famous for an extraordinary sanctity and dedication to the demands of the priesthood. Many of faithful and curious souls came to see him, to hear him preach, or to make their confession to him. Born into modest circumstances, when Catholics faced persecution in Revolutionary France, he spent his life healing the scars that had wounded both Church and State during this time. Pope Benedict XVI has dedicated the Year of the Priest (2009/10) to the care of the Curé d’Ars, hoping that he will become both a guide and model for all priests serving the people of God today.

Many Catholics are familiar with the life of St Jean Marie Vianney - such is his popularity. I’m sure there will be many opportunities in the next few months to read his biography, so let us now take time to reflect on certain aspects of this man’s extraordinary story without going into the chronological finer points.

Eccentric

It may be said with some confidence that St Jean Marie was quite an eccentric man. Indeed, many people would have found him very difficult to get along with, such was his dedication to reform and asceticism. Loving the evangelical ideal of poverty so much the Curé d’Ars lived on one cold potato a day – which was usually rotten, having been boiled days prior to eating. He believed firmly that a priest should live simply and therefore shunned away from any extravagance, which might have made his life a bit more comfortable. He never had his cassock mended or renewed, and would walk about looking quite shabby. However, St Jean Marie would use parish funds to decorate the church, to ensure that he was dressed in beautiful vestments for Mass, and to help the poor and needy. No expense was spared when it came to the Church – as expressed liturgically and amongst the poor brothers and sisters of Our Lord.

Another eccentric aspect of Jean Vianney’s life was his utter devotion to St Philomena. This saint had become very popular amongst the poor in the early part of the 1800s – after some bones had been found within a shelf tomb in the Catacomb of St Priscilla in 1802. Many people believed that the bones belonged to a girl-martyr, whose name, found on the tomb’s inscription, was “Fliumena.” Although this cult never really achieved Church sanction, many devout people would pray to her. St Jean Vianney, though, went further and would insist that his parishioners show devotion to the saint. He built a chapel in the parish church to honour St Philomena, and shortly before his death, after recovering from illness, promised to offer 100 Masses in thanksgiving for her intercession. Since the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council devotion to this saint has been suppressed – even if she did excite the pious affection of St Jean Vianney.

Many supernatural events were reported to have happened around and about the Curé d’Ars. Amongst the healing miracles and the prophetic words of wisdom that were worked through him, there were more sinister happenings. In fact, it seems that the Saint had quite a fight on his hands when it came to the Devil – who, apparently, would constantly try and threaten or badger the poor parish priest! One day the presbytery caught fire whilst St Jean Vianney was in the church. With no apparent cause found for the fire the Curé simply said, “It’s the grappin’s work!” He was quite used to satanic threats to his life, so would laugh them off, and even referred to the Devil, mockingly, as ‘the grappin’!

Perseverance

St Jean Marie Vianney is a true example of perseverance. He would not, even when the odds were stacked up against him, give up on his sense of vocation, and his obedience to God’s call. Becoming a priest was not easy for the Curé d’Ars. During the Saint’s early studies Napoleon forced ecclesiastical students to fight in his war against Spain. Jean Vianney had no choice but to surrender his studies and go off to fight. He seems to have been suspected of cowardice at one point, though managed to convince his commanding officer that he was missing from action due to being overly eager to pray in a local church! After this event, though, St Jean Marie did desert and his brother had to go and replace him. His time away from studies didn’t dampen his drive to become a priest, and he entered a seminary after returning home from the army. For some reason, though not lacking in natural intelligence, Jean Marie Vianney found studies for the priesthood excessively difficult. His Latin was so bad that it seemed inevitable that he would not be ordained. In fact, so bad was his Latin that he was given a special dispensation to study philosophy in French. He failed the seminary’s entrance exam, but persevered and tried again – being successful the second time round. This was not the only time he had to retake exams during his studies. Even when the many obstacles to his ordination seemed insurmountable Jean Vianney continued to trust in God, and never gave up. He was aided by the constant encouragement of friends, especially M. Balley, his mentor and priest friend – a man who knew that whatever Jean-Baptiste lacked in learning he made up for in sanctity and wisdom. As a result Jean Vianney was, contrary to expectations, ordained to the priesthood in August 1815.

Another matter that could have led to St Jean Vianney leaving his vocation as a diocesan priest was his temptation to enter the religious life. On four separate occasions he tried to run away from Ars, in order to enter a monastery – so much did he yearn for the life of contemplation. He was stopped every time – usually by his parishioners who would catch him in the act of desertion! He always realised the folly of this fantasy to become something God had no called him to, and would come back to his flock. He knew that, as difficult as it might be, it was only by persevering in the life God had chosen for him that he would find true happiness. So, in many ways, St Jean Vianney shows us that without the support of others, in his case the people of Ars and his Bishop, it can be nigh on impossible for any man, even a Saint, to persevere in what God has called him to do.



Pastor

Of course, more than anything else, St Jean Marie Vianney, is known for his dedication to the work and vocation of being a parish priest. Ars had become quite a secular place due to the political upheavals of the time and Jean Marie was determined to bring the people back to a sense of morality and spirituality. He dedicated himself to the reform of the town, and to the conversion of souls. So zealous was he for the sanctity of his flock that he would often preach against the sin of dancing! In fact he would often deny absolution to the local girls who refused to stop dancing with boys. He also advised his people to dedicate themselves to a life of temperance and moderation, to a life of prayer, and to the life of good works and charity. I wonder what the Saint would make of today’s world, where it sometimes seems that the Church is too timid to encourage sanctity, chastity and purity – I never hear many sermons against dancing, it must be said!

St Jean Vianney loved to celebrate Mass, and had a keen theological awareness of the tremendous mystery to which he, as a priest, and a Christian, was privy to in the celebration of the Eucharist. He was also a very keen preacher – and could go on for quite some time! But, of course, if there is one thing that we all know about the Curé d’Ars it is his dedication to the sacrament of penance. He often sat in the confessional for 16 hours a day – and was known for his sometimes kind, sometimes stern practical advice, and his ability to speak directly to the penitent’s soul, thus helping to heal and convert Christ’s flock. He truly loved those whom God had entrusted to him, becoming like Christ in his need to seek out lost sheep. It is probably this devotion to the people of God, shown through his unwavering loyalty to the proclamation and celebration of word and sacrament that makes St Jean-Baptiste Marie Vianney a true model of priesthood as it should be lived in any age.

St Jean Marie Vianney, pray for us, and for our priests

Also, St Francis Xavier, pray for us. It is his feast day today - I might now go to Farm Street to celebrate the witness of this holy and courageous Jesuit.

* One of my favourite quotes from St Jean-Baptiste Marie Vianney

[Picture notes: St Jean Marie Vianney; source: Wikimedia Commons. The relics of St Jean Marie Vianney at the Brompton Oratory, 02/12/09]

"Take the same of the Society"

A bookshop is closing down near where I live. The other day I popped in and found an excellent book on Early Modern Catholicism, which is mainly a study of primary sources from the time of the Reformation. Amongst the many letters in the book there were a few by the British nun, and founder of a religious institute, Mary Ward. Just after reading about her, and reading some of her fascinating writings, it was brought to my attention that this great woman is about to be declared Venerable by Pope Benedict XVI. This means that she is now firmly on the way to be fully canonised – and she will join the ranks of that other great English Servant of God, the Venerable John Henry Newman!

Mary Ward was born in Yorkshire in the year 1585 - one year before the martyrdom of St Margaret Clitherow in York. It was a time of persecution for Catholics in England, who were viewed with immense suspicion by Queen Elizabeth I and her government. It was also a time of massive social upheaval. Not only did the country have a strong female monarch, but ordinary women were beginning to make their mark in various other walks of life, too. Mary, who was raised by courageous Catholic women, of whom her grandmother Ursula Wright was foremost, would herself become a pioneering woman of the age. Ursula has spent several years, fourteen to be exact, in prison for her faith and instilled in her granddaughter a fierce sense of loyalty to the truth and to what she discerned to be God’s will according to her own conscience.

By the year 1606 Mary was determined to try her vocation as a religious sister or contemplative nun, and joined a convent of Poor Clares in France. She discovered, though, that God was not calling her to a life of contemplation and silence, but rather to one of religious activity. She, therefore, decided to found a religious society for women who felt the call to live according to religious vows, but who would also work in an apostolic way. When she was in her mid-twenties, in 1609, Mary had formed, with the aid of a small band of followers, a religious house in Saint-Omer – near to the Poor Clare convent where she first began her life in religion. She mentions an important event that occurred about this time in a letter to a Monsignor Albergati (dated 1620). In this missive Mary said that:

“In the year 1611, I fell sick in great extremity, being somewhat recovered by a vow to send myself in pilgrimage to Our Blessed Lady of Sichem, being alone in some extraordinary repose of mind, I heard distinctly not by sound of voice but intellectually understood, these words, ‘Take the same of the Society’, so understood as that we were to take the same both in matter and manner, that only excepted God by diversity of sex hath prohibited. These few words gave so great measure of light in that particular Institute, comfort and strength, and changed the whole of the soul, as that impossible for me to doubt but that they came from him, whose words are works.”*

This internal call, to “Take the same of the Society”, was interpreted by Mary Ward and her followers as a sign that they should form a Society of Jesus for women. Needless to say there was great opposition to this from the Jesuits themselves, as well as the Church and society at large. Nowadays it is common to see religious sisters working out in the world, but in the 17th Century this was unheard of. It was the preserve of men to live an active life, whilst female religious were expected to shut themselves away in the cloister. Like so many saints and innovators of the religious life her fiercest opposition came from the Church that she loved so dearly. Mary’s desire to create a religious community for women who wouldn’t be bound by the cloister, the habit, and choir was so radical at the time that it led to her imprisonment and to charges of heresy. She was freed after three months, but her new Order (sometimes unfairly referred to as the ‘Jesuitesses’) was finally suppressed in 1630. Importantly, though, Mary had some powerful supporters, amongst whom were Popes Paul V, Gregory XV and Urban VIII. She received some support from the Jesuits, too, and especially so towards the end of her life. In fact the General of the Society of Jesus, Father Mutio Vitelleschi, was particularly fond of Mary and very appreciative of her good work. Ultimately, though, the new community was too radical for the Church and could not have conformed to the expectations of the time, or to the rule imposed by Pope Pius V that all female religious had to be enclosed in community. In 1639, though, Mary was invited to Rome, to live under the protection of the Holy See, and was allowed to reform her religious institute under the supervision of the then pope, Urban VIII. By the 1640s she had ventured back home to England and had established a house in London and then another in Yorkshire. She died there, of natural causes, in 1645.

Although suppressed for a while, like many other religious orders, Mary’s institute survived the ordeal and was re-established and gained, by the early 18th Century, the necessary papal and ecclesiastical support to ensure its place in the life of the Church. For many centuries the religious institute had two main branches, known as the Sisters of Loreto and the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary – both of which now have very close links to the Jesuits. This latter branch, known also as the Roman branch, was renamed in 2004 as he Congregation of Jesus – thus, at last, bringing about Mary Ward’s vision that her sisters should “take the same of the Society”!

Mary Ward, Servant of God, pray for us, and for your sisters.

*Early Modern Catholicism; An Anthology of Primary Sources, ed. Milola, Robert S., (Oxford University Press, 2007) – page 163.

[Picture note: Mary Ward; source: Wikipedia, public domain]