A Snapshot of Britain Today

Readers of other British Catholic blogs will have gathered that our country is a strange and - in some major respects - a malign place these days.

I can add nothing to the reports of the latest legislative measures of the present government. Other bloggers have analysed and responded to the blows far better than I could. And, it appears, very much better than our Bishops could.

I would like to share what may seem at first sight a more trivial thing. But it was not at all trivial to the victims. And there is something about the mentality that the story illustrates…

From The Gloucestershire Echo, 26th February 2010, previewing a show by the stand-up comedian Tom Wrigglesworth. The following experience really happened to him:

“[His] train journey from hell wasn’t funny at the time … … Tom was just a passenger minding his own business when he overheard a train guard ordering a pensioner to pay £115 for a new ticket to London. He was so shocked he organised a whip-round only to be met by transport police officers at the station, who he had been reported to for begging.”

"Let me no wrong or idle word unthinking say"

Fr Sean Finnegan, in his Valle Adurni blog, tells us of some views he has come across in the blogosphere, which hint at a rather lofty attitude on the part of certain Anglo-Catholics to the style of worship in the average Catholic parish.

We Catholics know how awful things can be at times. We have lived through the experience of the post-Vatican II changes in the liturgy; and in many places we continue to encounter some pretty insufferable things. But bearing in mind all that we have endured since the 1960s, it would be very hard in addition to have to put up with having sticks poked at us by a few of those towards whom the Holy Father, and so many of us, entertain only the most fraternal and welcoming of thoughts.

The blogosphere encourages hastiness. Let us assume, then, that those writing in such a fashion have succumbed to the same temptation that seems to afflict so many users of the internet: of transmitting views on their computers which they would not dream of expressing either face to face or in a letter; and which, if they reflect more carefully, they would heartily repudiate. I have in mind here not only the writers to whom Fr Finnegan refers, but also to some “Roman” blog-commenters.

Let us follow this Anglicanorum Coetibus process day by day, with patience and joy. Our Lord has taught us to ask for our daily bread, for the strength and resources we need to journey through these times step by step. It may help to recall the words of the hymn we used to sing as children, which perhaps we should sing more often as adults:

Let me no wrong or idle word
Unthinking say;
Set Thou a seal upon my lips,
Just for today.

Anglicanorum Coetibus: A Day of Prayer and Discernment

22nd February: The Feast of St Peter’s Chair. Anglicans who are trying to see their way forward in the beautiful light of Anglicanorum Coetibus – and who naturally have some trepidation – are holding this day as a day of prayer and discernment. I am sure many of us will wish to join our prayers with theirs.

I know this is a world-wide invitation and movement, but I thought I would post our lovely English prayer which is dear to so many:

Prayer for England

O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon England thy Dowry, and upon us all who greatly hope and trust in thee.
By thee it was that Jesus, our Saviour and our hope, was given unto the world; and He has given thee to us, that we might hope still more.
Plead for us, thy children, whom thou didst receive and accept at the foot of the Cross, O sorrowful Mother.
Intercede for our separated brethren, that with us in the one true fold they may be united to the chief Shepherd, the Vicar of thy Son.
Pray for us all, dear Mother, that by faith fruitful in good works we may all deserve to see and praise God, together with thee in our heavenly home. Amen.

The Disparagement of Reverence: The "Theology of Crumbs"

Via today’s post on Editor’s Briefing, the blog of the Catholic Herald’s editor, Luke Coppen, I have found a tremendous post entitled What Mine Eyes Have Seen! It is from Southern Orders, the blog of an American priest, Fr Allan J McDonald. The horrors he has seen relating to the distribution of Holy Communion ...... Well, I will leave you to read for yourselves, and shudder.

Fr Hunwicke on the State of Things

Do please read this post on the blog of that splendid Anglo-Catholic priest, Fr Hunwicke, entitled Is This the End?

He writes powerfully, sweeping along from the views of the "Conservative" leader David Cameron, via the paucity of intellectual gifts in the present Anglican episcopate, the sad case from some years ago of Canon Bennett and the Crockford’s preface, and the tyrannical behaviour of liberals, to the light at the end of the tunnel – or is it the Light that shineth in the darkness?

May God bless him and all who are feeling their way forward, and may we help them with our words, our actions and above all with our prayers.

A church of the Traditional Anglican Communion

Much to my surprise, I received an invitation, quite late last Friday evening, to attend the patronal festival of St Agatha’s church, in Portsmouth. It was to take place on the following day. So I set the alarm clock for 6 a.m., and off we went soon after 8 for the long journey from Gloucestershire to the South Coast.

I thought you might be interested to read about the visit, because St Agatha’s is one of those Anglo-Catholic parishes which have received with joy the Holy Father’s Apostolic Constitution, Anglicanorum Coetibus.

It was originally a Church of England parish, but is now a parish of the Traditional Anglican Church, which is a member of the Traditional Anglican Communion. Here are the details of the warm welcome the TAC has given to the Apostolic Constitution. And here is the fascinating history of St Agatha’s.

The church was built toward the end of the 19th century, to serve the crowded slums that originally surrounded it. But its parish was destroyed when the great seaport was bombed in World War II. For some years its beauty was hidden while it served the Royal Navy as a storage depot. Now, after all its adventures, and after having had two-thirds of its Lady Chapel altar sliced away, it finds itself alone but very prominent, on an island in the midst of a modern road system near the city’s Cascades shopping centre; and it appears to have gained a new lease of life.

It is a large and rather extraordinary church, built in the style of an early Christian basilica. While many of its treasures were dispersed – and some were destroyed - during its wilderness years, much of its splendour remained; and since it has been brought back into use as a church many beautiful and interesting objects have been brought in to adorn it.

The celebration we attended took the form of a fine and dignified Anglo-Catholic Solemn High Mass and procession. There was also the censing of the statue of St Agatha, and of the many side-altars. For music we had an organ, an orchestra, and much hearty singing of hymns.

A delicious buffet lunch followed, which was much appreciated after our early start, and re-charged us for the journey home. We were extremely tired at the end of the day, but I am very glad indeed to have experienced the occasion.

I hope and pray that if all progresses well – please God - it will not be long before this fine parish, with all its faith and goodness and devotion, will be fully united with us in the one flock, in the fullness of the Church.

Pope Benedict's Address: Mining the Nuggets of Gold

What a magnificent address by the Holy Father to the Bishops of England and Wales!

Much attention has been given – and rightly so, for it’s an absolute cracker – to the following passage:

“… see that they are equipped to hand on the faith to new generations comprehensively, accurately, and with a keen awareness that in so doing they are playing their part in the Church’s mission. In a social milieu that encourages the expression of a variety of opinions on every question that arises, it is important to recognize 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.”

Also of great significance, I believe, are these earlier passages [with my impressions]:

“Your visit to Rome strengthens the bonds of communion between the Catholic community in your country and the Apostolic See, a communion that sustained your people’s faith for centuries, and today provides fresh energies for renewal and evangelization.”

[The Church in England and Wales cannot go it alone: our communion with Peter, willed by our Lord Jesus Himself, sustains our faith and energises us for the adventures ahead.]

"Even amid the pressures of a secular age, there are many signs of living faith and devotion among the Catholics of England and Wales.”

[I find it interesting that the Holy Father refers specifically to the Catholics, rather than the Church.]

Oh, how exciting! Now, I wonder what our Bishops’ response will be, in practical terms?

Cardinal Pell, the Vatican and Raw Prawns

I have translated below what my favourite Italian homework blog, Messainlatino, has to say on the latest speculation regarding Cardinal Pell of Sydney. Nothing more, really, than my previous post; but it is interesting to see how these rumours and conjectures take hold, and how they are starting to focus on Cardinal Pell.

I fervently hope that he will become the new head of the Congregation for the Bishops. I will confess my secret desire: that a certain famous Australian expression, involving a reference to raw prawns (what a challenge to the Vatican’s interpreters!) will be heard on many occasions, reverberating through the corridors, if he finds himself in this powerful post.

From the website of the Australian National Dictionary Centre:

“ … heard in the idiom to come the raw prawn (on, over, with, etc.) meaning 'to attempt to deceive (a person); to misrepresent a situation'. The idiom is typically used in negative constructions - don't come the raw prawn with me. …

1983 Canberra Times 17 Nov.: Sceptical groans which were, if I translate them correctly, requests for Mr Hawke to stop coming the raw prawn. “

But back to Messainlatino:

Cardinal Pell to take over the post of Cardinal Re?

"That is the hypothesis, albeit a very cautious one, of the usually well-informed Andrea Tornielli. However, this time he restricts himself to stating, in the conditional tense, that the Australian prelate could be in pole position for the nomination.

In short: a little scrap to gladden the heart for the moment; a great deal to pray for, that such a propitious nomination, in a key post, indeed a central one for the future of the Church, may be implemented.

Furthermore, we add that alternatively, depending on what emerges, Cardinal Pell is also spoken of for the Congregation Propaganda Fide, considering that the present Prefect, Cardinal Dias, will reach the age of 75 next year. The Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples (the modern, official name of Propaganda) shapes, to a substantial extent, the work of the Congregation for the Bishops (selecting the candidates for the episcopacy) in the mission lands, principally Africa and Asia: continents which are central for the spread of Catholicism.

For those who do not know Cardinal Pell, we shall say that he is the archbishop of Sydney, and as such very much involved in the organisation of the successful World Youth Day (on which occasion he celebrated a Mass in the Extraordinary Form for the Juventutem group). He was also one of the first to pontificate in the traditional rite, shortly after the promulgation of the Motu Proprio."

Harmless (and unreliable?) gossip from Rome

I found this speculation on Paolo Rodari's blog, Palazzo Apostolico, which I thought you might find interesting. Any errors in translation are entirely mine.

‘I read the following from the blog of the former Vatican correspondent of La Stampa, Marco Tosatti:

“The replacement of Cardinal Kasper, who is in charge of the dialogue with other Christians and with the Jews, is imminent. There is talk of the man in charge of the Diocese of Regensburg [Ratisbone], Mueller, as his successor.

“According to leaks from a reliable source, at Easter or thereabouts Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the head of the important Congregation for the Bishops, should also be leaving his post. The talk is of the Nuncio in Italy, Bertello, or of the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell (who is at present in Rome to see the Pope) as probable candidates.

“Pell is also a possible successor (if the Pope has to make different choices regarding the bishops) to take over the post of Ivan Dias, the head of Propaganda Fide, who could leave before the completion of his 75th year (which falls due in 2011) for serious health reasons.

Finally, after the summer the replacement should be due of the Brazilian Hummes (Congregation for the Clergy) and Cardinal Rodé, the head of the Congregation for Religious.”

Read Tosatti’s entire article here, on his blog San Pietro e Dintorni.'

An Interesting New Archbishop for Brussels

Messainlatino reports that an announcement will be made tomorrow that the Bishop of Namur in Belgium, Mgr André-Mutien Léonard, is to be the new Archbishop of Malines-Brussels. He will replace Cardinal Daneels, who is retiring.

A year ago, Messainlatino had written [please excuse any errors in my translation]:

“One name is circulating persistently: that of Mgr Léonard, Bishop of Namur. A man who is reputed to be very conservative (by which we understand: relatively speaking, in the context of the Belgian Church) and against whom the clergy who profess themselves “conciliar” have raised defences. Also because he is guilty [a spot of Italian irony here] of having given a favourable welcome to the Motu Proprio and of having ordained four deacons of the Fraternal Society of St Peter, attached to the Old Rite.”

This sounds like a very interesting appointment. Will we have similar good news in our country one day soon? I do hope so.

Fr Hunwicke: An Anglo-Catholic priest writes about "Humanae Vitae"

Here is a very interesting post from the blog of Fr Hunwicke, Priest-in-Charge of the Anglo-Catholic church of S. Thomas the Martyr, Oxford. His subject is the perennial Christian teaching on matters of sexual morality.

It is a wide-ranging essay, considering among other things the issues of homosexuality and contraception. On the latter topic he writes about the Lambeth Conference decision of 1930, and the events leading up to the publication of Humanae Vitae. The article is well worth reading.

Heroes and Heroines of the Catholic blogosphere

I’d like to record my great respect for a particular category of Catholic blogger: those who document in their blogs the joys and sorrows of their lives and the vicissitudes of their health. I am thinking especially at present of Jackie Parkes, and of Shadowlands, but there are others too.

I’m sure their words must provide a great deal of inspiration and strength. Who knows how many of their readers are in similar situations? Or in situations to which the messages in these blogs can fruitfully be applied, whether directly or by translation to suit their particular circumstances? I think Jackie and Shadowlands et al are doing a work of Christian love, the harvest of which will be made known to them one day.

A couple of years ago, when I had been given real spiritual comfort at a distressing time, I decided one Sunday to go to the principal Mass in a neighbouring parish. They like the stirring traditional hymns there, both Catholic favourites and those hymns of Charles Wesley and others which are in harmony with Catholic teaching. That Sunday I found myself singing Oh worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness, which I couldn’t remember having sung before.

In one of those strange coincidences one can experience, which may not in fact be coincidences at all, I found myself overwhelmed by the aptness of the second verse, which seems to brim over with the Lord’s generous love for us in our weakness:

Low at His feet lay thy burden of carefulness:
High on His heart He will bear it for thee,
Comfort thy sorrows, and answer thy prayerfulness,
Guiding thy steps as may best for thee be.

And that glorious line: "High on His heart He will bear it for thee". How chivalrous His love is!

Ttony: How the Bishops Spend our Money

Delighted to see that Ttony of The Muniment Room is up and running again after his break. He has some interesting financial data on the sort of thing the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales spends our money on, and the contribution made by each diocese.

He also has a suggestion on how to take a stand while continuing to give financial support in accordance with our duty.

Television and the Occasion of Sin

Browsing through a dictionary of quotations earlier today, I came across this gem. It was said on CBS Television in 1971, by the British television personality, David Frost:

“Television is an invention that permits you to be entertained in your living room by people you wouldn’t have in your home.”

This made me think of the old form of the Act of Contrition, which concludes with the words: “… and I firmly resolve, by the help of Thy Grace, never to offend Thee again, and carefully to avoid the occasion of sin.”

One of the benefits of an old-style Catholic education was that our lessons on the subject of sin included a very practical stress on the necessity of keeping away from occasions of sin. We were – or should have been – quite clear in our minds that this meant not only things or situations, but also people who put us into an avoidable state of temptation toward any kind of sin.

We were specifically warned about being in “bad company”. We were reminded that steering clear of it – and even more, breaking away from such “friends”, would sometimes require courage, and the acceptance of the risk, and very often the reality, of ridicule.

“Bad company” comes in bucketloads from television, from many programmes and perhaps especially from soap operas. The boundary of acceptability in all spheres of morality is pushed back and back by many elements within modern society; and surely not least among these elements are the insidiously corrupting “friends” who arrive in millions of homes every day.

Do Catholic schools continue to educate their pupils on this subject? Do parents know of its importance? How alert are our priests to the dangers, and to their own opportunities?

So many of the victims of this poison do not attend church. I know priests are somewhat constrained to stick to the themes of the Scriptural readings for the day, but if they try I'm sure they could insert a few nuggets of gold into their homilies. It would be wonderful if they could talk to their congregations about it from the pulpit, not necessarily as people needing such guidance themselves, but to encourage them to spread this sound teaching among their families and friends when suitable opportunities arise.

Sacked by his Bishop, honoured by the Pope

I send my best wishes for a very happy new year. God bless us, one and all; and, for British readers in this general election year, God help us!

Moving swiftly on from the state of the UK and its political scene: Rorate Caeli has the following report on the appointment of two new members of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei. Apart from the main theme of the story, there is an extra element of interest, which I have highlighted:

Saturday, January 02, 2010
New PCED Members

Messa in Latino has announced that the newest members of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei will be Fr. Vincenzo Nuara OP and Fr. Almiro de Andrade FSSP.

Fr. Almiro de Andrade is the first member of any of the "Ecclesia Dei Communities" to be officially appointed to the Commission. He also serves as MC at SS. Trinita dei Pellegrini, and is already considered as the de facto "secretary to the Secretary" of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, Msgr. Guido Pozzo.

Fr. Vincenzo Nuara, on the other hand, is the founder of the "Amicizia Sacerdotale Summorum Pontificum" and of "Giovane e Tradizione". Fr. Nuara, who had been removed from his position as vicar for religious in the Diocese of Acireale for his role in assisting the organizers of the celebration of the Traditional Mass in that diocese (in Sicily, which currently has only two locations with a regular TLM) -- a Mass that was saved only upon the intervention of the PCED -- has been very much at the forefront of promoting Summorum Pontificum,being one of the leaders in organizing study days and conferences on the Traditional Roman Rite, in Rome most notably the October 2009 conference that concluded with Archbishop Burke's Pontifical Mass in St. Peter's Basilica.

(H/t to our regular reader Gideon Ertner!)

It is particularly striking that a priest who had such a difficult time in his diocese should have been appreciated and honoured in this way by the Holy Father.

The Theme of the Kingdom

Thank you to Patricius and to JARay for their interesting comments on my previous post about the Luminous Mystery, “The Proclamation of the Kingdom”. It certainly seems to invite us to mine an extensive Scriptural seam.

JARay thinks of this Mystery in terms of the sending out of the 72 disciples: the ones who “came back rejoicing” at the wonders they had been able to perform through the power the Lord had given them. I like the idea: I am particularly fond of this episode.

For myself, the words that immediately come to mind are “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”, spoken first by St John the Baptist, and then, following John’s imprisonment, by Jesus Himself, when He begins His own public ministry with the same words. But then I feel I have to look further: in particular, to those famous passages of gathered-together teaching in St Matthew’s Gospel:

The Sermon on the Mount, dealing with the morality and prayer life of the subjects of the Kingdom. This is the context in which Canon John Udris presents the Mystery, in his beautiful booklet “A New Illustrated Rosary” published – with a most charming and moving selection of mediaeval pictures - by the excellent Family Publications of Oxford.

The Parabolic Discourse, describing various characteristics of the Kingdom’s growth and its preciousness.

The parables attached to the Eschatological Discourse, warning us to live our lives in readiness to be called to account, because the Kingdom has an aspect of futurity as well as a presence among and within us.

And, of course, I think of the tremendous scene in which the Keys of the Kingdom are entrusted to St Peter.

Having written the above, I’m sure I have only touched on the subject – as evidenced by this article in New Advent’s Catholic Encyclopedia. All in all, there is so much to this Mystery – so different from all the others - that I feel I may benefit from meditating on just one or two aspects of it each time it is prayed.

The Luminous Mysteries

Father Hunwicke's blog has raised in passing some interesting points about the Rosary, and in particular the Luminous Mysteries.

I have made two pilgrimages to Walsingham, the second of them about five years ago. During each visit we followed the custom of praying the Rosary as we walked in procession from Friday Market to the Slipper Chapel. The first time, we prayed the classical Rosary of fifteen Mysteries, finishing it when we were still at some distance from the Chapel. From that point we trudged along in silence; and then, as we approached the Chapel, its bell rang out to welcome us. It was a beautiful experience.

On the second visit, the Rosary included the Luminous Mysteries. The sound of the bell competed with our Glorious Mysteries; and we were well into the grounds before we had finished. I felt a slightly harassed atmosphere had overtaken the proceedings. I don’t know if they still attempt the twenty Mysteries these days.

This is only my personal view, but I don’t think the Luminous Mysteries should automatically be included in the recitation of the Rosary; and indeed I understand that they were offered by Pope John Paul II as an optional addition. Perhaps they could be prayed at times as a separate devotion. Each of the Luminous Mysteries is certainly of great importance as a subject for contemplation; although I confess that I have found “The proclamation of the Kingdom” to be rather diffuse, unlike the precise events referred to in the other nineteen Mysteries.

It took me some years to appreciate that the traditional three chaplets were not intended to say everything about the life of Christ, but were devised to represent the story of salvation as witnessed and experienced through the eyes of His beloved Mother. Once I had absorbed that, I started to appreciate – and, I hope, to benefit from - the riches of it. For the most part, I prefer to stick with this form of the Rosary.

Having said that, it happens just now that I am saying several chaplets each day, and I have started praying the Mysteries of Light to provide some variety. Still finding “The proclamation of the Kingdom” rather diffuse, though!

In case I’m not able to post anything more before Christmas, I’ll take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy Day.

Evesham: A Wonderful Solemn High Mass

Thank you so much to the priests, the servers and the splendid choir for a wonderful Solemn High Mass yesterday evening at the church of St Mary and St Egwin in Evesham.

If you are in that part of Worcestershire, do visit the attractive little town of Evesham, and the fine old Catholic church on the High Street. The interior appears to have been very little affected by the post-Vatican II changes. The altar rails remain. A freestanding altar has been installed in front of the high altar; it is built of stone, of a similar design to the high altar, and is at a lower level. There is enough space beween the two to allow for the offering of Solemn High Mass at the upper altar. There is a beautiful reredos behind the main altar and behind each of the side altars; these two being hinged altarpieces or tryptychs. All were inset with lovely paintings.

We arrived about half an hour before the start of Mass, which allowed me enough time to follow the Stations of the Cross. They were startlingly vivid and affecting, painted in a style which made me think of continental Europe in the late Middle Ages. As I progressed from one Station to another, it was genuinely upsetting to see the face of Christ showing increasing evidence of His pain and suffering. It was a remarkable experience.

The Mass itself was so absorbing that I quite forgot about the intervening altar. When I was not watching the proceedings I was praying the prayers in my book, as were many others in theirs, no doubt; and the choir was singing and responding (joined at times by the congregation), and there was a general profusion of participatio actuosa: a tremendous sense of all of us being united with the priest who was making present this greatest Work of all.

Since the Mass was offered in celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the choir sang the Ave Maria during the Offertory. I find some musical settings of the prayer too syrupy; but they chose the setting by Jacobus (or Jacques) Arcadelt, a version which seems to combine stirring power with calm dignity and serenity. It was beautifully done, and I found myself moved to tears.

The church was well on the way to being full. It must have been a real joy to the priests and to all those involved who had put in such sterlng work, to have so many present for this happy occasion. Very well done!

Extraordinary Form High Mass in Evesham, 8th December

At the EF Mass last Thursday, Father announced that there is to be a High Mass in the Extraordinary Form for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, at 7pm on Tuesday 8th December, in Evesham. He will be the sub-deacon.

Church: St Mary & St Egwin, High Street, Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11 4EJ (useful if you have sat-nav)

The parish website tells a delightful story, dating from the early 8th century, about St Egwin and his devout swineherd, Eoves. Eoves saw a vision of Our Lady. He told Bishop Egwin, and took him to the place, where Egwin himself saw the vision. It was Bishop Egwin who, under this inspiration, built a church and an abbey there.

While Egwin became a canonised saint, Eoves is not forgotten, because the town's former name was changed to Evesham to commemorate him.

The Church of St Mary and St Egwin was built in 1911 and designed in the Gothic style by Pugin & Pugin. I have not been inside the church, but externally it looks very handsome. Low Mass is regularly offered there in the Extraordinary Form, at 7pm every Tuesday.

Clifton Diocese: Is Communion available again on the tongue?

There have been a couple of developments regarding the reception of Holy Communion on the tongue. Fr Blake has published this letter from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, which he found on the Rorate Caeli blog. The letter was written in reply to an enquiry by a British lay Catholic. In short, Rome has confirmed that, even during the present situation regarding swine flu, the faithful continue to have the right to receive on the tongue.

Yesterday evening I attended a regular Mass in the Extraordinary Form – technically a “private” Mass – and was very happy to find that the priest distributed Holy Communion on the tongue. I wondered if he had decided “Rome has spoken, so here goes!” But I have since learnt from Ttony, in a comment to my post of 11th October, How to restore Communion on the tongue in Clifton? that an Ad Clerum has just been issued by Bishop Lang of Clifton, lifting the restrictions.

Now, here is an interesting thing. I have read the text of the Bishop's message to all parishes, dated 25th November, available on the diocesan website. I am wondering if this is the Ad Clerum itself, or an exact reproduction of the text; and I ask this for a particular reason.

The Bishop's earlier message on 24th July (accessible via a link from the above), in which he originally called for the restrictions, said:

“It is now sensible for all churches in our diocese to offer communion under one form, and in the hand.”

“The Sign of Peace at this time should be given by a smile, a slight bow or some other appropriate gesture, but not by the shaking of hands.”

The Bishop's latest message, on 25th November, is introduced with these words:

“In the past months due to the swine flu pandemic, it has been recommended that Holy Communion be received under one form and the Sign of Peace should be given by a smile, a slight bow or some other appropriate gesture, but not by the shaking of hands."

The earlier reference to Communion “in the hand” is not repeated here.

Bishop Lang then continues:

“ … I think we can amend the guidelines and return to the practice of receiving Holy Communion under both kinds and exchanging the Sign of Peace with a handshake or other suitable ways."

No reference is made to the method of receiving the Host.

I have read the latest message with care, and cannot see anything about the restoration of the option of receiving Holy Communion on the tongue. This is my reason for wondering whether this text is the same as that of the Ad Clerum.

It may be that the Bishop has spoken or written to his priests separately on this matter. I do not know. But it may not make any difference. Even if they are aware that Rome has ruled we can receive on the tongue, even if they know that this is a matter for Rome and not for the Bishops, Bishop Lang's message gives the local clergy the authority to decide whether to relax his own restrictions or to keep them in place. Here is the relevant passage:

“I believe that parish priests are best placed to know when it would be prudent to follow the previous guidelines and reintroduce them if necessary.”

Will the clergy distinguish between the Bishop's guidance and that of Rome? When we go to Mass this weekend, will we find there has been no change at all; or any combination of these things; or that everything is restored apart from Communion on the tongue? We shall see.