Septuagesima

The pre-Lent season starts on Sunday with the feast of Septuagesima announcing, in the colour of the vestments, that Ash Wednesday and Lent will soon be upon us.  

It's like a warning light to tell us to prepare for 40 days of penance and not to decide to give up chocolate biscuits or alcohol or meat until Shrove Tuesday. 

I always emphasise to my teacher trainees that preparation prevents poor performance and instils us with positive confidence. I think this applies to the spiritual life.

We also need to prepare to make our Easter duties - Confession and Holy Communion from Ash Wednesday until Trinity Sunday.

The Mass on Sunday at St. Patrick's, Bradford at 1.00 p.m. will be a Low Mass with confessions at call.

I am delighted to be able to report that again we will celebrate the Sacred Triduum this year at St. Patrick's  and that each of the ceremonies will be sung. The times will be announced nearer to Holy Week. 

Please remember Gloria Malone in your prayers. Gloria is often at at Mass at St. Patrick's but is suffering from pneumonia in the Infirmary at the moment. 

Update: I understand that her condition is improving.

Epiphany V

Confessions will be available before Sunday's Low Mass for the fifth Sunday of the Epiphany at 1.00 p.m. at St. Patrick's, Bradford.

Next Sunday is Septuagesima Sunday which means we are soon to be on the countdown to Lent.

Candlemas

 

Candles feature widely over the next few days. On Saturday there is the procession through Bradford to mark the feast of St. Blaise which will culminate in the blessing of throats  at St. Patrick's Mission church where we have our regular Sunday Mass. Candles are used for this blessing. 

Sunday is the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, or the Purification of Our Lady, otherwise known as Candlemas. This Sunday's Mass will be a missa cantata and after the blessing of candles there will be a short procession around the church.

Confessions before Mass.

Epiphany III

 Mass for the third Sunday of Pentecost (Jan 26th.) at St. Patrick's at 1.00 p.m. will be a Low Mass.

As you will see from the previous post, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Bradford are organising a procession next Saturday (Feb 1st.) in honour of the patron Saint of Bradford, St. Blaise. It will culminate at St. Patrick's where blessings of the throat will be given.

The day after we will have a missa cantata for the feast of Candlemas. There will be the blessing of candles before Mass and the indoor procession which traditionally follows. 

St. Blaise - Patron Saint of Bradford - City Procession

 

Saint Blaise was the bishop of Sebastea and a doctor. The first known record of the saint's life comes from the medical writings of Aëtius Amidenus, where he is recorded as helping with patients suffering from objects stuck in their throat. Many of the miraculous aspects of St. Blaise's life are written of 400 years after his martyrdom in the "Acts of St. Blaise."

Saint Blaise is believed to begin as a healer then, eventually, became a "physician of souls." He then retired to a cave, where he remained in prayer. People often turned to Saint Blaise for healing miracles.

In 316, the governor of Cappadocia and of Lesser Armenia, Agricola, arrested then-bishop Blaise for being a Christian. On their way to the gaol, a woman set her only son, who was choking to death on a fish bone, at his feet.

Blaise cured the child, and though Agricola was amazed, he could not get Blaise to renounce his faith. Therefore, Agricola beat Blaise with a stick and tore at his flesh with iron combs before beheading him.

He is the patron saint of Bradford on account of his links to the iron combs used to help to kill him. Blaise is also the patron saint of woolcombers for the same reason.

Bradford once had a secondary school named after him. Ironically it burned down - long after I'd left. 

St. Blaise now has a parish dedicated to him in Bradford.

Epiphany II

This Sunday's 1.00 p.m. Mass at St. Patrick's, is a Low Mass. 

The Gregorian chant tuition sessions will resume after Mass for about 50 minutes. 

Feast of the Holy Family

Mass for the Feast of the Holy Family on Sunday at St. Patrick's, Bradford at 1.00 p.m. will be a Low Mass.