Just Another Thursday

It was bitterly cold this morning as I left for school.
The teacher I have been covering for returned today, so first thing I was giving support to the Priamry one children.
Working with them reminded me just how hard infant teachers have to work. I do not think I could have ever worked at this level. It requires great patience, great planning and great resourcefulness.
I have some of those qualities, but not enough to have managed infants!

After morning break..with cakes to celebrate the pregnancy of one of the teachers, it was off to Primary4.
That was fine or the rest of the day....excpet for the painting lesson which I was not expecting. Or I would not have worn a light shirt.
And why is it that when ever a tub of water was spilled, it was never the clean water...always the black or the bright purple water????????????

Don't tell me...Murphy's Law. Well there isn't a Murphy in that class!!!

Tomorrow I have to take my car early to McHargs. It is due a service, a brake repair then the MOT.

Saturday we are off to Edinburgh to see Cats at the Playhouse. Looking forward to that lots.

These are some photos from our 2010 Canada trip. I like Canada!

.

Just Another Monday

I am out teaching this week. A couple of teachers are off, actually 3 were on Friday.

It was a very frosty start to the day, but then the sun came out! Sad...some of the children did not know what it was................

I have car problems. One of the rear brakes is not fully releasing, so I cannot drive far or the brake disc heats up too much. The earliest I can get the car into the garage is Friday.

We are all off to Edinburgh on Saturday to see Cats. We are all looking forward to that. In March we are going with the parish to see "The 39 Steps " at the Theatre Royal. It has had very good reviews.

Sunday was the First of Lent. The newspapers are still full of the Pope's decision to resign. I have also been reading a number of Catholic Bloggers. The reaction to this momentous decision is very mixed. Some are understanding, some bemused, some afraid, some angry.

The speculation has begun of course. Benedict has had trouble with a powerful cardinal. Benedict is fed up fighting the politics of the Curia. Benedict is dying.

It is a confusing time. I wonder why he never was seen presiding at an Extraordinary Rite? Why were there sometimes mixed messages with regard to the SSPX. Why did cardinals and Bishops making statements at variance with Church Teaching seem not to be called to account?

I suppose that all we can really do is keep praying, trusting and not worrying. God knows best. He is in charge. His Will will be done.

these photos were taken at St Andrews in Fife a couple of years ago. Atmospheric? I think I manged to catch the light.

Lent 2013

Today was Ash Wednesday, and another Lent begins. Another opportunity to change or ways, turn away from what is bad in our lives, and begin again to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

And we had weather for it. We had been promised snow, the tail of that huge snow storm which a few days ago struck Eastern America and Canada. So when we awoke this morning there was indeed a couple of inches of snow lying and lots more falling from the sky, and which continued to fall until about lunchtime.
Then, as forecast, it began to turn to rain. Now, at 9pm it is still raining, and much of the snow has gone. And soon we will be dry, with temperatures rising to about 9C with even some sunshine. Isn't weather fascinating.

I was looking at the photos showing the double lightning strike on St. Peter's Dome in Rome. Of course many folk saw something supernatural in that event, given the stunning statement from The Holy Father. And it was the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes. But the best comment I saw went something like this..."Lightning strikes tall building! What a surprise! "

I will be out teaching on Thursday and Friday, and possibly all next week too. Schools are finding it difficult to get supply teachers since the payment system was changed. Now, unless you are there for more than 5 days, you are paid at the level of a new teacher, which for me, with no tax relief, means coming out with about £50 at the end of a full day in a class with all the associated paperwork and marking. Take away travelling expenses and lunch, and you can see why many teachers do not think it worthwhile to do 2 or 3 days, just in case they miss a longer, more lucrative employment.

Yesterday my wife had business at the offices of the Glasgow Archdiocese. after her meeting, we popped in to the Cathedral for a visit. We had not been in since the building had been renovated. My reaction to the work? I thought I was in an Anglican building, or an assembly room.
The altar is bare, unadorned. Behind it a plain dull wall. The Tabernacle was gone. We eventually saw it in a side altar. The archbishop's chair now sits at the central location on the altar. There was no sign of a Crucifix above the altar, just a portable one at the side.
A huge painting of St John Ogilvie towers over the Tabernacle. To me this is not appropriate. I am sure St John Ogilvie would not be pleased to see his painting in this position dwarfing  the tabernacle.
The holy water font sits in the central aisle quarter way down the building, so huge I thought it was the Baptismal Font.

It may well be from an architectual or artistic viewpoint with gold leaf and pastel colours at the tops of the pillars, that it is remarkable. But for me it seems that God has been side tracked. It is a monument to the skills of man, not for the worship of God. I am sure others will see it very differently. I am only recounting my reaction and feelings.

I have been reading up what Vatican II said about placement of the Tabernacle, and I attach a commentary here.

The Vatican II document which addresses this issue is "Sacrosanctum Concilium" (The Dogmatic Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy). Issued December 4th 1963, it emphasizes the nobility of the tabernacle in determining its place in a church. 128. Along with the revision of the liturgical books, as laid down in Art. 25, there is to be an early revision of the canons and ecclesiastical statutes which govern the provision of material things involved in sacred worship. These laws refer especially to the worthy and well planned construction of sacred buildings, the shape and construction of altars, the nobility, placing, and safety of the Eucharistic tabernacle, the dignity and suitability of the baptistery, the proper ordering of sacred images, embellishments, and vestments. Laws which seem less suited to the reformed liturgy are to be brought into harmony with it, or else abolished; and any which are helpful are to be retained if already in use, or introduced where they are lacking. According to the norm of Art. 22 of this Constitution, the territorial bodies of bishops are empowered to adapt such things to the needs and customs of their different regions; ings and vestments. After the Council the body entrusted with implementing this conciliar decree issued the following guidance, which emphasizes the respect and honor due to the Eucharist, especially as the sacrament of the Lord's presence in the midst of His issue closely linked to that of the altar is the tabernacle. We can hardly give here prescriptions of a general and uniform character. An attentive study needs to be made in each case, with due attention to the material and spiritual circumstances proper to each place. Artists will little by little suggest the best solution. But it is the business of priests to advise them and call attention to the principles that must safeguard the respect and honor due to the Eucharist. It is important to contribute to the development of Eucharistic worship, which should continue under all those genuine forms recognized by the Church as embodying true Christian piety. Particularly in larger churches, a chapel specially set aside for the reservation and adoration of the Eucharist is advisable and might well be used for the Eucharistic celebration during the week, when there are fewer of the faithful participating. Whatever the solution chosen .... the greatest care should be devoted to the dignity of the tabernacle. If the local Ordinary agrees to its location away from the altar, the place should be truly worthy and prominent, so that the tabernacle is readily visible and is not hidden by the priest during the celebration of the Mass. In a word, the location should make it possible for the tabernacle to serve unmistakably as a sign and to give a sense of the savior's presence in the midst of his people. (my emphasis) [Letter of Cardinal Lecaro to the Bishops, 30 June 1965, Concilium for Implementing the Decree on the Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council) In 1969, revised in 1975, the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) said the following: 276. It is highly recommended that the Holy Eucharist be reserved in a chapel suitable for private adoration and prayer. If this is impossible because of the structure of the church or local custom, it should be kept on an altar or some other place in the church that is prominent and properly decorated. 277. The Eucharist is to be kept in a solid, unbreakable tabernacle, and ordinarily there should be only one tabernacle in a church.   The Code of Canon Law codified these developments in 1983. Canon 938 º1. The Most Holy Eucharist is to be reserved regularly in only one tabernacle of a church or oratory. º2. The tabernacle in which the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved should be placed in a part of the church that is prominent, conspicuous, beautifully decorated, and suitable for prayer. º3. The tabernacle in which the Eucharist is regularly reserved is to be immovable, made of solid and opaque material, and locked so that the danger of profanation may be entirely avoided. º4. For a grave cause, it is licit to reserve the Most Holy Eucharist in another safer and becoming place especially during the night. º5. The person who has charge of the church or oratory is to see to it that the key of the tabernacle in which the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved is safeguarded most diligently. Finally, the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: 1183   The tabernacle is to be situated "in churches in a most worthy place with the greatest honor." The dignity, placing, and security of the Eucharistic tabernacle should foster adoration before the Lord really present in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. One evident difficulty seems to arise in connection with 1) having a chapel of reservation and 2) complying with canon 938, 1.  In some places it seems there is a tendency to read these in an absolutist sense not found elsewhere. By that I mean, if anywhere within the external walls of the church building there is a chapel of reservation then the law is satisfied and furthermore there cannot be a tabernacle in the main church. It is my experience that this interpretation does not prevail in other places, least of all Rome. When the chapel of reservation is at the front end of a side aisle of a church, or prominently off of a side aisle (i.e. so that it is truly prominent and conspicuous from the main body of the church) then it will contain the only tabernacle in the church building. It is also thereby convenient for prayer and for retrieving and reserving the Eucharist at the time of Mass. However, when there is a Eucharistic chapel that is not so prominent and conspicuous from the main body of the church, even though it be in the same church building, there will also be a tabernacle in the main body of the church serving as a sign of the Lord's Presence there. This can certainly be verified by a visit to Rome's many churches. Ultimately, complying with the mind of the Church on the placement of the tabernacle rests with the bishop. As the Concilium letter noted, it is impossible to make universal law for all the particular circumstances of construction that may occur. Even though it is within the authority of the bishop, the laity certainly have a right to make their desires known to him. Considering the loss of faith in the Real Presence that is evidenced by recent polls of Catholics and the obligation to foster adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, it would seem opportune to suggest to our pastors that the time has come to return the Tabernacle to a truly prominent place of honor in the main body of the Church. Some bishops have already concluded this and are doing it. Answered by Colin B. Donovan, STL

Apologetics - Doctrine - Canon Law - Eastern Churches - General - History - Liturgy - Moral NFP - Philosophy - Pro-Life - Scripture - Spiritual

 

Pope Benedict Resigns

I presume that many Christians and  around the world today would have been stunned by the news of the resignation of the Holy Father.
And presumably most Catholics are saddened too. We have come to expect our Popes to die in Office. And certainly for me my feelings today are akin to that of the death of a significant person.

It was clear that Benedict was becoming frailer, and his mobility was becoming more limited. Could he have continued to guide the Church as an invalid?
Pope John  Paul II continued till his death. His suffering was there for all to see. We all remembered him as that charismatic smiling strong man who came to visit us here in Scotland.

It pained us to see him weak,  dribbling and slurring his speech. But he soldiered on showing great courage. He showed us an example of heroic sanctity. Human frailty was not being hidden away. And as he approached death, the crowds gathered to be with him in his final hours. Here was an old dying man, surrounded by the love of millions, who wanted to be with him as he prepared to meet God. He was not being hurried out of his life for the sake of convenience.
Death was seen as a part of living.
For the sick and the old it was a tremendous statement of the value and worth of every life, no matter how restricted that life seemed. It was a witness against those who would destroy life when it became cumbersome, at whatever age, and especially in these times of campaigns for euthanasia, and the deplorable standards of care experienced by the elderly in our hospitals.

Pope Benedict addressed this issue in his statement. As he saw it, physical as well as mental strength will be needed to guide the Church over the next years. Obviously for him, his failing physical well being was an important factor. And I wonder, given that I am informed he was a smoker, whether this has contributed to his state of health?

I can only express my personal feelings here. I believe that this is an extremely significant event for the Catholic Church and for the World.
I feel lost tonight. I am confused and not a little afraid. I have a sense of having been abandoned.
No doubt these feelings will pass. A new Pope will be elected and with God's help, our new Pope will begin to steer the Barque of St Peter.

Christian values, and in particular Catholic values are under an increasing and world wide attack. A persecution is underway. God may have decided that for what comes next, His Church needs a younger ,hysically stronger Pope at the helm.

Much will be written over the next days and weeks. I am certain the supposed work of St Malachy will be oft quoted.
Let us not waste time on such trifles. There are things we should be doing.

Pray! Pray for the Pope, the Church, ourselves. Pray the Rosary! Our Lady has been warning us of the need for the Rosary, for contrition and penance.Go to Mass. Frequent Confession, frequent Holy Communion. She warned that there would be a chastisement one day if we did not heed her call!
Perhaps that time is now upon us.
How apt that at the beginning of Lent, we find ourselves in this position! Surely this is a call to awake!
We have become complacent. How many of us have been involved in campaigns against same sex marriage, abortion and euthanasia? Too many have listened but have done nothing, even too lazy to write a letter, send an e mail, or join a street protest. The Legislators have not been pressurised by hundreds of thousands of active Christians. It has been down to a few. And that is not enough. The enemies of God are succeeding because we stand passively round muttering about what is the point.
In the next election, if every Christian voted for the Christian candidate, some would be elected! But too many say..."It's a wasted vote...let's just vote the way we usually do...it won't make any difference.
And that is our problem. Total disinterest as our beliefs are trampled upon and cast aside.

Time is short. Now is the time to return to the full practise  of our   Catholic Faith. Jesus promised that He would be with us, and that the Gates of Hell would not prevail against us. But we need to play our part, and not wait for a knight in shining armour to fight our battle for us!

Why We Can No Longer Trust Politicians

As expected, the Government was successful in having its "Gay Marriage" Bill passed in the House of Commons.
But it was supported by less than half of the Conservative Party MPs. The majority of Conservative Members voted against the Bill, against the Government and against the Prime Minister, David Cameron.
The Bill was passed because almost all Labour Party Members and Liberal Party Members supported it.
There are so many reasons why this legislation should not have passed, and none of those reasons are homophobic.
This move was never part of the Conservative Manifesto, or the Labour Party Manifesto. The Electorate had no idea at the last Election that this was on a hidden agenda.
Tax breaks for married couples was in the manifesto. But it has just been announced this week that that will not be happening. Can anyone see the perversness of this? That which was promised is abandoned. That which was not mentioned is pushed through.
The majority of people in Britain see no need for this legislation which seeks to change the meaning of Marriage, an institution which existed before any parliament.

In Scotland, same sex marriage also appeared though never on any manifesto, and Alex Salmond is hell bent on being first past the post in this race. And this despite the fact that is going to cost him and the Scottish National Party it's raison d'etre.....Independence!
18 months ago, the SNP had this prize in their hand. They had achieved the impossible. A majority on the Scottish Parliament, and the support of many Catholics and Christians of many denominations.
But same sex marriage had destroyed that gain, and Independence will be lost. And never again will the SNP have such a majority

Civil Partnerships give same sex couples the legal recognition they desired. Same sex marriage is going to open up a legal minefield. Consumation as in the Marriage Act is impossible for same sex couples. The definition of adultery will have to be changed. What happens if a gay Lord marries? What title will his male partner have...Lady or Lord?

And children! Same sex couples cannot conceive naturally, so they will have children made for them. These poor children have become commodities...made to order, cash paid up front.

There is a Natural Order in the World, and if this order is perverted, there are consequences. Man and Woman in marriage is normal. Man and Man, Woman and Woman is not natural. And despite what many claim, it is mentioned and forbidden by God's law in the Bible.
But of course many people today pick and choose which parts of God's Laws they wish to keep, and those they wish to ignore for their convenience or life style.
Clearly here again, the Laws of Man and the Laws of God differ. And whether or not you believe in God, He believes in you. He made you to know Him, Love Him and serve Him, and to be happy with Him in Heaven. And one day we will all have to account to Him for our lives.
And so called Catholic MPs vote for anti life legislation but still turn up at Mass and go to Holy Communion! Where are their consciences?
This is a scandal the Church must address, instead of turning a blind eye.

But this is not a uniquely British affair. All over the World, same sex marriage legislation is being pushed. And despite the huge numbers of ordinary people who come out to express their opposition to this legislation, the Politicians ignore, and get on with the destruction of Marriage, Religion and the Church. Their aim is a society where everyone will be free to pursue whatever makes them happy, as long as it is not Christianity and all that it stands for.
Do not forget that Catholic Adoption Societies have all but disappeared because of the bias towards homosexuality and lesbianism. Because they were unwilling to place children in situations that were anathema to their beliefs. Only the life styles and beliefs of the "gay" had to be accommodated.
Children are not a right. Children are not a commodity. Children are not a "must-have".

And all this for a tiny minority of the population of each country. And at a time when every country is facing huge financial problems, where families are facing ever increasing bills as wages are restrained. Where the purrsuit of "Green Policies" bring despair to ordinary folk and millions in taxes and bribes from multi national companies.

Christians around the World are being disenfranchised. We are getting close to the point where Christians will struggle to find a candidatefor whom  they can vote.

We can only hope and pray that here in the UK, the House of Lords will reject this legislation. And  we can only hope and pray that those MPs who supported this bill against the wishes of those who elected them are shown the way to the labour exchange at the next election.

In the next election, if there is a Christian candidate, vote for that person. Do not be deluded by the "wasted vote" comments. If every Christian voted for the Christian candidates, they would be elected! It would make a difference! Those who deceived us this time round would be ejected!
And then maybe we could get back to sanity and morality and decency.

The Border Abbeys

There were a number of Cistercian abbeys founded in Scotland, and particularly along the borders area between Scotland and England.
As a result of the turbulent history of that region, these Monasteries, on both sides of the border came under frequent attack from both sides in the Border wars, before being destroyed by the evil of the Reformation.
The 4 great abbeys were to be found in Jedburgh, Kelso, Dryburgh and Melrose. They were magnificent building built to the Glory of God.

You could easily visit all 4 abbeys in one day, though if you wanted to spend an appreciable amount of time in each, 2 days would probably be better.

The full history of each can be found from the links on this blog.

Melrose Abbey

King David I asked monks from Rievaulx abbey in Yorkshire to found an an Abbey in Melrose. Initially David wanted it built on the site of St. Aidan's Monastery, but the Cistercians needed good farming land and negotiated for a site 2 miles further away, in what is today the town of Melrose.
The Heart of Robert the Bruce was buried here.

Kelso Abbey

David had founded a Tironesian Monastery in Selkirk in 1113. in 1128, the community moved to Kelso to build a monastery there. It took over 75 years to build

Dryburgh Abbey

Dryburgh dates to 1150. Hugh de Moreville, a friend od David I was the benefactor. In later life he became a novice there, dying in 1162. Interestingly, his son Hugh was involved in the murder of Thomas A' Becket in 1170

Jedburgh Abbey

David established this building as a Priory in  1138. He was seeking to demonstrate to the English that Scotland could build impressive monasteries too. in 1154, it was raised to the status of an Abbey, run by Augustinian Black Canons.

Enough remains of these Abbeys to appreciate how impressive they were. It well worth spendinf the time to visit all four.

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/ustours/borderabbeys/index.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/scottishhistory/earlychurch/trails_earlychurch_borderabbeys.shtml

Melrose

Melrose

Dryburgh

Dryburgh

Dryburgh

Dryburgh

Dryburgh

Melrose January 2013

It is a while since I blogged. I was in the middle of recounting my USA trip, and the Civil War Battlefields, when I ran into a photo problem. My photos when added to the blog were not the right way round, and though I tried repeatedly to correct it, the problem stayed. So I became dispirited and left it.

But it is time to try again. I will leave the Civil War for a bit, but I will take up my Battlefield Tour later.
For the present, we are back in Scotland.

Last month we took advantage of a good deal at the Waverley Hotel in Melrose, in the Scottish Borders. We had not factored in the heavy snow that began on the Sunday, the day before we left.

Everything was fine till we approached the Edinburgh By-Pass. At that point in the journey, the snow was noticeable, and so it continued for the remainder of the journey. The snow was steadily falling, and on remote stretches of the road, the wind was blowing it off the open fields where it was drifting on the road. We did at one point wonder if we could go on.
We persevered, got through the worst, and eventually reached Melrose about 3 pm. We stopped there for soup and bread and coffee, before making our way to the hotel.
The journey was slightly awkward for I had no sat-nav. TomTom had finally decided that as my device had been returned to me the previous week after repair, and yet still be not working, that they would replace it. I had to send the faulty one back, and the replacement was sent to the Hotel, arriving mid week.

Our room was spacious. There was no bath, only a disappointing shower. Most of the heating was supplied by a portable electric heater that we had to keep on during the night, halfay between the room and the unheated bathroom. Doesn't central heating spoil you?

The food was fine. Not spectacular, but fine, and at the price we paid for our 4 night stay, we could not complain.

view from our room at hotel

Melrose Abbey

Abbot's House, Melrose

Selkirk

Galashiels

Dryburgh Abbey

Earl Haig's grave

Sir Walter Scott's tomb

Peebles Cross Kirk

Peebles main street

The snow limited our travel as a number of roads were closed, but we managed to visit Selkirk, Galashiels, Hawick and Peebles over the 4 days.

All in all, it was an enjoyable and relaxing week.