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

Low Sunday

 

The funeral Mass of the Holy Father will take place on Saturday in Rome followed by his burial at St. Mary Major, in a break with tradition. May he rest in peace.

On Sunday, which is Low Sunday (also known as Quasimodo Sunday or Divine Mercy Sunday) we shall have Low Mass at St. Patrick's, Bradford at 1.00 p.m. followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and then veneration of a relic of the Holy Cross, which is being taken to every diocese in the country thanks to the Latin Mass Society as part of the Jubilee Year. Thanks to Mr Waddington for facilitating the visit in this diocese.

The relic was authenticated for public veneration in 1945 by Archbishop Peter Amigo.

Prayer for the election of a new pope

O God, eternal shepherd,
who govern Thy flock with unfailing care,
grant in Thy boundless fatherly love
a pastor for Thy Church
who will please Thee by his holiness
and to us show watchful care.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Please also remember the soul of the late Pope Francis in your prayers. 

 

Easter Vigil

The Mass on Holy Thursday and the Liturgy of Good Friday were well attended and were very smooth in their execution and beautifully accompanied. 

Saturday at 7.30 p.m. sees the start of the Easter Vigil. 

At the Vigil the Easter fire is blessed and then the flames from it light the blessed paschal candle. The candle has been studded with five grains of incense and is carried by the deacon/priest to a central point before the altar to sing the Praeconium. 

.After this follow the 4 readings from the Books of Genesis, Exodus, Isiah and Deuteronomy.

The first part of the Litany of the Saints follows and then there is the renewal of Baptismal promises. with the sprinkling of the people thereafter.

The second part of the Litany takes place as the altar is being prepared for the first Mass of the Resurrection. 

The bells will again tinkle and chime during the Gloria.

The altar party will stand towards the lady altar to sing the Regina Caeli at the end of Mass.

Sacred Triduum

Thank you to those of you who have contacted me about my mother-in-law, who died very peacefully on Sunday morning. 

The Triduum at St. Patrick's, Bradford is as follows:

Maundy Thursday 6.00 p.m.

Good Friday 3.00 p.m.

Holy Saturday 7.30 p.m.

Easter Sunday 1.00 p.m.