Easter IV

The 1.00 p.m. at St. Patrick's on Sunday will be a Low Mass. Fr Hall has to leave smartly after Mass for another engagement so there will be no confessions available after Mass. 

Habemus Papam!

 

Pope Leo XIV

American Cardinal Robert Prevost emerged yesterday as the 267th successor of St. Peter. 

May Christ guide, protect and preserve him.

Conclave & Easter III

 

The conclave to elect a successor to St. Peter is now well underway. The first ballot saw black smoke. The results of that secret ballot are known only to God and those men in the Sistine Chapel. Its results will have undoubtably fuelled much anxiety, joy or need simply for prayerful reflection. I found this prayer while surfing the web:

Lord, as the Church enters this time of transition, we ask for the guidance of Your Holy Spirit. Pour forth Your wisdom upon the College of Cardinals as they gather to discern Your will for the successor to the Chair of St. Peter.

Grant them clarity of mind, purity of heart, and courage of spirit, that they may choose a shepherd after Your own heart, one who will lead Your flock with wisdom, holiness, and love.      Amen

Sunday's regular 1.00 p.m. Mass at St. Patrick's in Bradford will be a Low Mass. I hope that by then we will have a pope. 

Each failed ballot until the appearance of white smoke will continue to cause joy or anxiety in increasing measure and therefore increased prayerful reflection. 

Oremus pro invicem.

Mother of the Church, pray for us.

Easter II

This Sunday's Mass at St. Patrick's, Bradford at 1.00 p.m. will be a Low Mass and will be livestreamed. 

With the death of my mother-in-law, I have not yet thanked all those who made the Sacred Triduum such a resounding success. The servers, Fr. Frantisek and our cantatrix, Madeleine all contributed to make the whole thing a very smooth and extremely moving event. Likewise, the visit of the relic of the Holy Cross on Low Sunday with Benediction, after Mgr. Grogan's Low Mass was executed very smoothly. 

As the conclave now approaches, we must pray that a pontiff with the humility of Pope Francis will emerge and who will unify the Church and help heal those so unnecessarily re-opened wounds of division, especially in the field of liturgy, inflicted over recent years. 

My prayer is for a unifier Pope who is not afraid to promote orthodoxy and orthopraxis.

The link for this Sunday's Mass:

https://www.youtube.com/@LMSLeeds