Westminster Cathedral was full to capacity this afternoon for the Mass of Thanksgiving for the first anniversary of the state visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the United Kingdom. The Mass was celebrated by the Archbishop of Westminster, Most Rev Vincent Nichols, in the presence of HE Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, HE Archbishop Antonio Mennini, all the Bishops of England and Wales, together with several priests and deacons and all the English and Welsh seminarians. Her Majesty’s Government was represented by officials headed by Simon Martin, Director of Protocol for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, accompanied by the Ambassador to the Holy See, HE Nigel Baker. The Archbishop of Canterbury was represented by the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Rev Dr Alan Smith, whilst Archbishop Elisey of Sourozh represented the Eastern Orthodox Churches. There was also a representative from the Oriental Orthodox Churches.
I was fortunate enough to have been given a ticket for the event, and was grateful for the opportunity to join with my fellow Catholics in giving thanks for last year's Papal visit. The Mass itself was set to Mozart's
Spatzenmesse, which was sung by Westminster Cathedral's world-famous Choir. Both the entrance and communion hymns,
Praise to the Holiest in the height and
Firmly I believe and truly, were written by Blessed John Henry Newman - whose beatification was proclaimed during the Pope's visit, one year ago today. The Scriptural readings and proper prayers were from the 25th Sunday of the Year, whilst the proper sung parts were taken from the Feast of the Chair of St Peter. The offertory motet,
Tu es Petrus, was set to the music of Charles-Marie Widor, as was the rousing organ voluntary at the end.
Before Mass began, both the Bishop of St Albans and the Apostolic Nuncio read out formal greetings on behalf of those whom they were representing. In his message, Archbishop Rowan Williams spoke of his personal gratitude to Pope Benedict XVI for coming to Britain last year. He also acknowledged the special and important unifying role of the Pope as Bishop of Rome, saying "Pope Benedict showed us all something of what the particular vocation of the See of Rome means in practice – a witness to the universal scope of the gospel.'" Pope Benedict XVI, in a letter written by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, expressed his appreciation "to all those who contributed to the happy outcome of his Visit." He also encouraged those seminarians present to keep their eyes fixed on Christ and to devote themselves wholeheartedly to their "intellectual and spiritual formation, and to be steadfast heralds of the new evangelization."
In his homily, Archbishop Vincent Nichols concentrated on three phrases that the Pope used during his state visit to the UK - namely, "the beauty of holiness", "the splendour of the truth" and "the joy and freedom born of a relationship with Jesus Christ." The Archbishop reminded us that Pope Benedict XVI invited Catholics to be witnesses to these three fundamental aspects of the Christian life during his time in Britain.
Archbishop Nichols said that he believed that "a deepening of our life of prayer" was essential for those who sought to witness to the "beauty of holiness". Quoting Bl John Henry Newman, Vincent Nichols said that "without prayer we cannot 'radiate Christ; we become just another ‘clashing symbol’ in a world filled with growing noise and confusion.'" He also cited Pope Benedict XVI when he said that "Prayer is letting the Lord have the right of free speech." In light of this, the Archbishop of Westminster called for a renewal of "the practice of daily prayer." He also said that "Pope Benedict is not afraid of diversity in the prayer and liturgical life of the Church. Neither should we be." He then went on to call for "a special place in our prayer, in every parish, for Eucharistic Adoration."
Archbishop Vincent Nichols went on to say that we should follow the Holy Father's example in witnessing to "the splendour of truth". When the Pope was at Westminster Hall, he witnessed to the truth "with sensitivity and reasoned argument, without hectoring or condemning, inviting rather than demanding, firmly but gently." In light of this, Archbishop Nichols remembered words from his own Episcopal Consecration in 1992, when Cardinal Hume said of St Francis de Sales, "He was gentle but firm, a combination which helps us to sustain and guide the faithful. It is never easy to keep these two qualities in harmonious balance. If one is to be favoured at the expense of the other let it be gentleness – a gentleness born of strength."* Echoing Pope Benedict XVI's call for "clearer moral values", the Archbishop also said that our Catholic faith illuminates reason and helps us to see "life in its fullness", which is essential when forming legislation that is conformed to "the objective norms governing right action."
Finally, Archbishop Nichols asked how many in our society today would associate "joy and freedom" with the Catholic Church? Yet, as he pointed out, Catholics are often witnessing to these qualities - such as the 2 million young people who travelled from all over the globe to give "unmistakable testimony to that joy and freedom born of a relationship with Christ at the recent World Youth Day in Madrid." The Archbishop of Westminster then reminded the congregation that being "Catholic is a way of life, not a set of membership duties." To be Catholic is to be one with all our brothers and sisters, and to express our common faith "in everyday actions, the habits of a maturing faith, actions of devotion, kindness and, indeed, self-denial, actions which are willing expressions of our love of the Lord who alone is the source of our joy and freedom." For this reason, then, Archbishop Nichols expressed the hope that we will all "embrace the communal act of Friday abstinence, sharing together in our identification with Jesus in his self-denial for our salvation."
It was good to have been at today's Mass, which saw Catholics united in giving thanks for the Petrine Ministry and for last year's Papal visit. It was also an opportunity to reflect, with help from Archbishop Nichols' homily, on the profound message that Pope Benedict XVI brought with him to the UK. His words will need years of prayerful study, for they seem to be prophetic and still remain "alive and active" for those with ears to hear. Whilst watching all the Bishops of England and Wales processing out of Mass, though, I could not but wonder how many of them were willing to accept the Pope's challenging words in their entirety, such as those he addressed specifically to them before his visit to the UK: -
"In a social milieu that encourages the expression of a variety of opinions on every question that arises, it is important to recognise dissent for what it is, and not to mistake it for a mature contribution to a balanced and wide-ranging debate. It is the truth revealed through Scripture and Tradition and articulated by the Church’s Magisterium that sets us free." (emphasis mine)
For the full text of Archbishop Vincent Nichols' homily, please see the
Diocese of Westminster's website
For more on today's events, please
see this page on the Diocese of Westminster's website
* The other evening, I confused St Francis de Sales with St Louis de Montford, but it was quickly pointed out to me that de Montford was the one "not shy of getting into brawls" in defending truth! It seems, then, that some saints prefer "firmness" to "gentility" when it comes to witnessing to the "splendour of the truth".
[Images: 1 Westminster Cathedral during the Mass of Thanksgiving © Mazur/catholicchurch.org.uk; published under a creative commons licence; source:
Flickr Catholic Church England and Wales. 2 The Bishop of St Albans reading the message from Most Rev Rowan Williams © Mazur/catholicchurch.org.uk; published under a creative commons licence; source:
Flickr Catholic Church England and Wales. 3 Archbishop Vincent Nichols during the homily © Mazur/catholicchurch.org.uk; published under a creative commons licence; source:
Flickr Catholic Church England and Wales. 4 A commemorative lapel pin, given to all those who attended the Thanksgiving Mass. 5 The seminarians of England and Wales with Archbishop Nichols © Mazur/catholicchurch.org.uk; published under a creative commons licence; source:
Flickr Catholic Church England and Wales. 6 The order of service booklet from today's Mass of Thanksgiving.
More photos here]
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