24 Hours With the Lord - St. Walburge's Shrine - Preston


Torch of The Faith News on Thursday 12 March 2015 - 10:00:28 | by admin

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Pope Francis has requested a day-long period of Eucharistic Adoration with time for Confession or speaking with a priest.

In the Diocese of Lancaster, this special day of Eucharistic Adoration will take place tomorrow at St. Walburge's Shrine in Preston.

9am Friday 13th March - 9am Saturday 14th March.

The address is St. Walburge's Shrine, Weston Street, Preston, PR2 2QE.  

Ite ad Joseph - Go to Joseph!


Torch of The Faith News on Wednesday 11 March 2015 - 11:50:43 | by admin

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The St. Joseph Novena begins today in preparation for the feast of this greatest of saints after Our Lady. It is hard to believe that a whole year has gone by, since we invited our readers to pray the novena for the protection of the Church in relation to the Synod.

This year we propose to pray the prayer beyond the 9-days of the novena and invite our readers to join us by praying it every day until and through the Synod in October.

To encourage us, let us first recall St. Teresa of Avila's 'guarantee': 'To other saints, Our Lord seems to have given power to succour in some special necessity - but to this glorious saint, I know by experience, He has given the power to help us in all. Our Lord would have us understand that, as He was subject to St. Joseph on earth - for St. Joseph bearing the title of father and being His guardian, could command Him - so now in Heaven, Our Lord grants us all his petitions. I have asked others to recommend themselves to St. Joseph, and they, too, know the same thing by experience' (Autobiography VI, 9).

Daily Prayer to St. Joseph for the Synod

Glorious St. Joseph, foster-father and protector of Jesus Christ! To you we raise our hearts and our hands to implore your powerful intercession. Please obtain for us, from the kind Heart of Jesus, the help and graces necessary for our spiritual and temporal welfare. We ask particularly for the grace of a happy death and the special favour which we now implore - for Pope Francis and the Rome Synod of Bishops on The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization, to preserve, defend and confidently promote the Tradition of Catholic Orthodoxy for the Glory of God, the Good of the Church, the Salvation and Sanctification of Souls, and the Well-being of Society.

Guardian of the Word Incarnate, we feel animated with confidence that your prayers on our behalf will be graciously heard before the Throne of God.

O Glorious St. Joseph, through the love you bear to Jesus Christ, and for the glory of His Name, hear our prayers and obtain our petitions. Amen.

St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church - Ora Pro Nobis!   

Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the Heart of Cardinal Burke's Visit to England


Torch of The Faith News on Wednesday 11 March 2015 - 10:15:10 | by admin

During his recent visit to England, His Eminence, Cardinal Raymond Burke offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at two shrines which are playing an important part in the re-conversion of England.

On Sunday morning, Cardinal Burke celebrated a Low Mass with Motets at the Shrine Church of Ss Peter, Paul and Philomena in New Brighton. In his homily, which drew from the Gospel text of the Mass, His Eminence preached about purity of heart. He reminded the faithful that Our Lord warns them to be aware of those things which lead them into repeating sins, such as those of lust. 

The ICKSP Shrine, known locally as the Dome of Home because it was the first landmark returning sailors used to spot, has truly been the 'Beacon Announcing Hope' that Bishop Mark Davies spoke of at the grand opening in March 2012.   
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Fr. Simon Henry has this and other pictures from the Mass on his blog at Offerimus Tibi Domine. A good number of the faithful travelled from throughout the country to attend the Holy Mass and the social which followed afterwards in the hall.

On Monday evening, Cardinal Burke offered Pontifical High Mass at the Throne in the Shrine of St. Augustine, Ramsgate. Fr. Tim Finigan has this image up at The Hermeneutic of Continuity.
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The historic shrine was begun by A.W.N. Pugin to recall and celebrate St. Augustine of Canterbury's important mission to Britain, and to honour the Catholic saints who helped to found, build and shape our nation story. Cardinal Burke contributed to the shrine's history by offering the Traditional Latin Mass there and praying for the re-conversion of Britain.

Fr. Tim Finigan, who acted as Deacon at the Mass, has written of the evening: 'In fact, the whole place was packed in a way that perhaps hasn't been seen for some time. The sanctuary choir was filled with Norbertines, Oratorians, Benedictines, Knights of Malta and brother footsloggers of the secular clergy, as well as servers old and young. In the nave and aisle, it seemed as though every element of Pugin's architectural masterpiece was complemented by the living faithful who came from far and wide to be there for the historic visit not only of a Cardinal, but of a man of courage and fidelity in his witness to the faith committed by Christ to the Apostles.'

This has been a blessed visit by His Eminence to England. Priests and lay people have been greatly encouraged and strengthened by his humility, reverence and courageous witness to the true teachings and pastoral practice of the Catholic Church.

As small as our apostolate is, we would like to say a big ''Thank You'' to Cardinal Burke and to all who worked behind the scenes to make his visit both possible and fruitful.

St. John the Baptist, St. Augustine, St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More - Pray for us!

Evangelization - Some Helps and Hindrances - (Part 2 of 4)


Torch of The Faith News on Monday 09 March 2015 - 13:09:11 | by admin

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We'd like to get back today, to our ongoing discussion about some of the things which, in light of our own past experiences of conversion to the One True Faith, might help or hinder evangelization in these times. 

During his homily at Second Vespers, for the close of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (January 18 -25), Pope Francis suggested: 'So many past controversies between Christians can be overcome when we put aside all polemical or apologetic approaches... Christian unity - we are convinced - will not be the fruit of subtle theoretical discussions in which each party tries to convince the other of the soundness of their opinions.'

In light of the 2,000 year Tradition of the Catholic Church, this appears to be quite a singular claim for a pontiff to make! 

Let us not forget, either, that Catholic dogma and doctrine is Divine Revelation and not merely human thinking. 

In terms of natural logic, it is also worth noticing, at the very outset, that this call to set aside apologetics is itself a form of apologetic: the papal homily in question, appears to represent an apologia for an end to traditional apologias! Strict logicians might be inclined to view this as an example of the self-refuting idea.

Perhaps we can agree that it is not always the time and season for polemics. For example, gathering with local Anglicans, to provide food and shelter for the homeless, might not be the most opportune time to get into a heated discussion of King Henry VIII's attempts to usurp papal supremacy; although even here, it is amazing what might be accomplished with a touch of humour!

Still, polemic is not always the correct approach. 

To give another example: Some Traditionalist friends might be shocked, but I readily admit that, when I was still a Protestant, the discovery of paragraph 3 of Unitatis Redintegratio helped me to begin to listen to Catholic truth claims. This is the paragraph that acknowledges that, during the history of the Church, men from both sides in rifts were often to blame for dissensions that lead to subsequent separations from the Church. 

As a Catholic, I understand that this is not the same as saying that Catholic dogma/doctrine was ever wrong; only that some Catholics did not live or present it as well as they might have done. When I was still a Protestant in the late 80's - early 90's though, that acknowledgement was enough to get my attention. It seemed reasonable and made me think that I would be unreasonable and stubborn to reject it on the supposed grounds that all former Protestants had always been right. I began to think, ''Well, if the Catholics can be big enough to say that, maybe I'll listen to what else they have to say.'' It aided a small, but important, opening of my mind. 

None of this is to deny the value of polemics in due season. Rather would I be the first to say that we are now immersed in a time when polemic is a necessary part of the arsenal to defend the Blessed Sacrament, the Sacrament of Confession, the Sacrament of Marriage, and even the very nature of the Church from the Kasper-Bergoglio imbroglio! 

But charity must always be the watchword. As much as we detest the present modernistic attack, we cannot abide some author's use of the most foul language to describe the actual person of Cardinal Reinhard Marx. It is always best to stick to the issues and to see the polemical opponent/enemy of the Church as a sinner in danger of Hell. As my confessor reminds me, by the grace of God go all of us.

So much for polemics, but what of apologetics? 

Apologetics describes the use of logic, reason and debate to clear away false opinions and ideas which hinder people from seeing the reasonableness of Catholic Truth. It is a science that meets objections head-on to solidly demonstrate, with conclusive points from reason, the divine authority of the Catholic Church.  

Some great Catholic apologists include the Early Church Fathers, Blessed Cardinal J.H. Newman, Ludwig Ott, Archbishop Michael Sheehan, G.K. Chesterton, Frank Sheed and more recent writers like Dr. Scott Hahn.

I cannot overstate how important Catholic Apologetics were in clearing away the false notions which hindered the conversion of my parents and I to the One, True, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

I would suggest that, whilst there may be a time and a place for polemics, it is always the right season for apologetics.

As Protestants we subscribed to the - let us be honest, ridiculous - notion of Sola Scriptura. Catholic Apologetics helped us to learn that Sola Scriptura was itself un-scriptural! It also helped us to see that the Catholic Church and Her Tradition existed before the writing of the New Testament, was the context for that writing, and provided the Magisterial authority to interpret that writing and approve it's place in the Canon of Sacred Scripture. 

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen famously said: ''There are not a hundred people in America who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions of people who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church - which is, of course, quite a different thing.''

Catholic Apologetics, drawing from that very quote, helped us to see that what we hated was not Catholicism, but a hideous caricature of it. In our ignorance we thought that Catholics worshipped statues as idols and worshipped Mary instead of Jesus Christ. Apologetics helped us to grasp the true meaning of images in devotion and the essential difference between honouring Our Lady and adoring God. Apologetics also helped to clear up our misunderstandings, by demonstrating that the more we love the Mother, the more we love Her Son. 

Through apologetics - often employed with a smattering of wit by an elderly priest - we saw how reasonable it was for the Church that Christ founded to continue with a traceable lineage throughout human history. Through this, we learned more of the true roots of Protestantism in England; and how the True Faith had been gradually extinguished here through the hunting of priests and those who harboured them, executions, imprisonments, heavy fines and the objective theft of Catholic cathedrals, monasteries and churches. Apologetics demonstrated that the religion of 'Good Queen Bess' was not that of St. Augustine of Canterbury, St. King Edward the Confessor, or the venerable St. Bede; nor was it that of the Apostles or the Early Fathers. 

Apologetics taught us that Catholics do not believe that Christ is slain every day, but that Holy Mass is the One, True, Sacrifice of Calvary, made present in an unbloody manner on our altars. It showed us that primitive Christianity was not akin to a contemporary house-church singing pentecostal choruses, but was the religion of the Didache, the Episcopate and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass; in other words the religion of the Catholic Church handed down from the Apostles to the Pope and Bishops of our own day.  

Apologetics focuses primarily on reason, but it also has wider and often unseen implications. For example, from childhood, I had developed a squeamish fear of the phenomenon of stigmata. In addition to my flawed theological objections to the Catholic Church, this had contributed an irrational fear of any contact with Catholicism. 

The mere mention of the Catholic Church would set off a negative internal response in my emotions. Growing up, I never articulated this to myself or to other people. Still, it was a real interior barrier to my conversion. It is the kind of thing that the devil, observing our characters and responses, might possibly work out and irritate to hinder our conversion.

Apologetics helped me to understand the true nature, meaning - and rarity! - of stigmata. With my reason finding balance and right-understanding on the issue, my emotions were then able to gradually follow suit. I began to grow in self-knowledge about my internal responses to this matter and how they had subtly hindered my conversion. Jesus Christ came to save, heal and sanctify the whole human person. This includes our memory, intellect, will and our emotional life. Interestingly, I later developed a great love and devotion for the great stigmatic priest St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, who has helped me so much in my life!

Apologetics can also help the potential convert to understand how the behaviour of scandalous Catholics and also how their own personal sins might be preventing their conversion. But these are issues I would like to discuss further in the next article.

This article has demonstrated a little of the timeless quality of apologetics as an aid to conversion. Let us conclude for today with the following thought: Surely, if we really are interested in saving souls, and in Christian unity worthy of the name, it is time to give up the apologies - but never the apologetics!   

Cardinal Burke Makes Inspirational Appeal - We Need a Witness to Christian Marriage that is Limpid, Heroic and Ready to Suffer


Torch of The Faith News on Saturday 07 March 2015 - 14:55:17 | by admin

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I was blessed to attend the presentation given by His Eminence, Cardinal Raymond Burke, last night in Chester. We sense that these days of the Cardinal's visit present a rare period of graces and blessings to strengthen the faithful for the battle that is coming, and indeed is already upon us.

It was marvellous therefore to see Bishop Mark Davies of Shrewsbury, clergy from various dioceses and religious orders, plus a large gathering of lay people from throughout Britain, present at last night's event. I enjoyed meeting up again with friends from various places.

The event was organized and hosted by SPUC and Voice of the Family, whilst the vital theme of Cardinal Burke's presentation was Remaining in the Truth of Christ on Holy Matrimony. 

The content of His Eminence's presentation was so rich and thorough that I soon realized that it would be impossible to do justice to it in the space available in a blog-post. During the evening, I decided to simply note down a few salient themes which readers might find helpful as sources of encouragement and for the inspiration of fresh resolve.

The first thing I noted down was the fact that His Eminence acknowledged clearly the grave situation in which the Church now stands. Drawing on the teachings of recent popes, he noted that the Church Herself must be re-evangelized in order for the Gospel to be taken out to a thoroughly secularized world.

Something that particularly struck me during the evening, was Cardinal Burke's call for a renewed study of Veritatis Splendor, Evangelium Vitae and Familiaris Consortio.

For several years on the run, I used to re-read Veritatis Splendor (and Fides et Ratio), in order to keep purifying my mind and thinking from the sophisticated enforcement of moral and religious relativism which surrounds and bombards us in our culture. As I have let this practice slip in recent years, it was good to be reminded of this clear and engaging encyclical. Some of our readers may find reading this clear teaching document to be helpful between now and the Synod. 

The same is true of Familiaris Consortio. A few years ago, some friends paid for us to attend a weekend in Walsingham with the National Association of Catholic Families (NACF). The beauty of these families and their witness is a testimony to the timeless value of this encyclical. We would therefore say that, despite claims to the contrary by some modernistic prelates, it is in no way outdated; all it has ever really lacked is widespread reception, promotion and implementation. Indeed, Cardinal Burke re-affirmed the ancient concept of the Domestic Church and the fact that parents are the primary educators of their own children. He also spoke of the importance of family prayer and the need for education in chastity, modesty, purity and virtue.

Evangelium Vitae is another helpful document that I used to re-read on occasion. Torch of The Faith has also given parish presentations based on it.

His Eminence also gave a timely reminder of the importance of a renewed committment to the Great Commission, which Our Lord gave to the Apostles, to preach, baptize and teach all nations. Just last summer, we heard Fr. Simon Henry, in Farington, give an excellent homily on the Great Commission. This helped us to dust off some of the layers of laxity which can gather if we are not too careful. I personally think that we must particularly guard against this when a pope and many cardinals, bishops and priests seem to be giving the impression that conversion to Christ and His Church are somehow not essential today. (A Torch of The Faith tip here: In order to keep yourself alert and at the ready, add some encyclicals from - at the very least - St. Pope Pius X, Bl. Pope Pius IX and Pope Leo XIII, together with the last chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel, to your reading list! You can get those encyclicals at the Vatican website).

One of the most inspiring aspects in Cardinal Burke's presentation, was his reminder that the Lord has promised to be with us until the end of time. Leading into this theme, His Eminence called the faithful to a more ready and generous obedience to the Word of Christ. He noted that this obedience is indispensable, and invited us to call on the Holy Spirit to purify us of any rebellion or disobedience that we may harbour in ourselves. I think that is so important in light of something I once read in the Little Catechism of St. John Vianney, about the ease with which we plough the 'fields' of the souls of other people; whilst all the while neglecting to care for our own. It can be sobering to recall that, at the end of our earthly life, the Lord will show us the real state of our own field!

At this point, Cardinal Burke promised to pray for the reconversion of Great Britain, when he visits St. Augustine's shrine at Ramsgate on Monday, 9th March, to offer Holy Mass. I'm sure you'll agree that this is great news!

His Eminence also underscored the fact that Christian marriage is the critical locus of the witness of the Church for the transformation of our society. He noted that the restoration of respect for conjugal union in marriage is essential for the very future of Western civilization. During the evening, His Eminence affirmed the Church's true teaching on sex outside of marriage, homosexual activity and contraception. In relation to the latter, he also drew attention to the abortifacient component of many forms of contraception.  

His Eminence reminded that there is only one kind of marriage as God has created it; and as Jesus Christ has redeemed it, by the shedding of His Blood. 

I was inspired by his reminder that fulfillment - meaning perfectio - has properly to do with nature and ends, rather than mere selfish whims. These are good little sound-bites to draw from in defending the truth.

After the presentation there was a fruitful period for questions and answers. Laurence England, author of the blog That the Bones You Have Crushed, asked to what degree the Cardinal thought the crisis was related to a Eucharistic crisis. 

Cardinal Burke agreed that there is a definite link between the loss of belief in the Real Presence/the sacrificial nature of the Mass and the call for divorced/'re-married' to be given Holy Communion. In answer to another person's question, he also acknowledged the link between the collapse in catechesis and the loss of the sense of the sacred that has occured in the implementation of the liturgical reforms. He noted the fact that many left the Church in droves when a 'man-centred' approach began to take hold and spread. This has all contributed to the present crisis.

I'll conclude this post now with five further key points that I took from the cardinal's presentation. 

1. Cardinal Burke said that we must love divorced/'remarried' people and help them in any way that we can to come closer to Christ - but not change doctrine and not give in to false sentimentalism. 

2. To those who say we should somehow leave the doctrine and just change the practice in the name of mercy, we need to pose the principle of non-contradiction. Is the person validly married or not? If so, then they cannot not be married at the same time! 

3. Prayer and sacrifice are essential as the Church is in a time of crisis. The value of these can not be over-estimated. His Eminence urged all of us to offer up our sufferings in union with Christ for the Church.

4. At the same time, there is practical action that we need to take: We must call for the Synod to move beyond this obsession with irregular marriages and deal with the urgent issues to address the threats posed by abortion, contraception, same-sex 'marriage' and the undermining of parental rights. Cardinal Burke drew attention to the polite Filial Appeal website, which has now gained over 120,000 signatures.

5. During the evening, His Eminence recommended that we regularly call on the help of those great defenders of marriage: St. John the Baptist, St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More. This links to his inspiring call for us to make a defence of marriage that is limpid, heroic and ready to suffer.          

His Eminence Cardinal Raymond Burke Will Celebrate Low Mass with Motets at the Shrine Church of Ss Peter, Paul and Philomena this Coming Sunday


Torch of The Faith News on Thursday 05 March 2015 - 15:43:27 | by admin

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In addition to his presentation in Chester on Friday evening, His Eminence, Cardinal Raymond Burke, Patron of the Sovereign Order of Malta, will celebrate Low Mass with Motets at Ss Peter, Paul and Philomena, on Sunday 8th March 2015, at 10:30am. There will be a social in the hall afterwards.

The address is 7 Atherton Street, New Brighton, Wirral, CH45 9LT.

Evangelization - Some Helps and Hindrances (Part 1 of 4)


Torch of The Faith News on Wednesday 04 March 2015 - 21:00:26 | by admin

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Quarant' Ore - Forty Hours Devotion - English Martyrs,
Litherland. Circa 1990.

I was updating the recent tribute to Dad earlier on: There was an extra photograph that I had meant to put in and a bit more about how the Blessed Sacrament Shrine in Liverpool had helped him. I also wanted to tidy up and clarify the paragraph about Dad's last Confession and Holy Communion.

Whilst adding these elements, the recollections of my own conversion and journey into the Church from Protestantism, in the late 80's - early 90's, were refreshed. This got me thinking of some of the things which helped and hindered me. I'm putting these down here in case some readers find them helpful in reaching out with the Catholic Faith to others. 

Et Verbum Caro Factum Est 

There is a key text in Catechesi Tradendae, which speaks of the need for fidelity to God and fidelity to man in a single loving attitude (CT 55). 

God became man in Jesus Christ. The 'incarnational principle' helps us to keep our focus on God and His glory, without losing sight of man and his needs.

Experiencing reverent offerings of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Quarant' Ore, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and traditional devotions; such as Stations of the Cross, Rosary and parish novenas, all helped my family, whilst still Protestants, to encounter the Blessed Trinity, the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist and a living community of the Catholic faithful. This was a work of grace, drawing us to God through His Holy Church.

We were blessed to find a Catholic parish where: the Novus Ordo was offered with reverence; the two old priests regularly reminded the congregation that the Mass was the Holy Sacrifice and that Jesus Christ was truly present in the Blessed Sacrament; where the art, architecture, the demeanor of the priests and people, and much of the music expressed these realities and fostered reverence and devotion for them; where traditional devotions drew the faithful deeper into these mysteries and extended their influence into daily life; where priests and people showed an interest in each other and their spiritual/temporal well-being; and where this concern was given practical expression through prayer groups, Legion of Mary and SVP. 

Today, reverence has been lost in many parishes in the West, much devotional life has ceased and outward-looking parish groups have given way to inward-looking meetings and information gathering. In many ways, the questionnaires and agendas surrounding the Synod in Rome have exacerbated this trend.

There exists a video on YouTube about a retired lady in the Archdiocese of Liverpool who wishes to be a priest. Some of those continuing to push this theologically impossible agenda gathered a group of lay-women into the central pews of a local church, (not English Martyrs), together with the lady concerned, to discuss on film why they think she should be allowed to become a priest. Throughout this disconcertingly un-Catholic video, respect for the Real Presence, and the official teaching of the Magisterium, falls prey to the self-referential focus of this small and clearly uncatechized community. Non-Catholics viewing this footage would be hard-pressed to discover the mystery and wonder of the Mass, Real Presence or the Sacred Priesthood.

Aside from its agenda of radical dissent from the Magisterium, one of the most nauseating things about A Call to Action (ACTA) - the group welcomed into the Archdiocese of Liverpool last November by Archbishop Malcolm McMahon - is their consuming focus on lay-governance and the desire to turn the Church into a slickly-efficient institution on the lines of a modern bureaucracy. ACTA's website links to another site which interprets Sensus Fidelium in terms of a coldly-efficient lay-bureaucracy; picking future bishops according to their own leftist ideologies. The imagery is not so much City of God as Capital City. Only without the trendiness and youthful dynamism.

The organic growth of the Sacred Liturgy, its related devotions and the art, architecture and community life that It fosters, have all been hacked away to make way for a bureacracy of campaigning, group-discussion and self-assertion. Saintliness has too often given way to a narrowly-understood professionalism. 

Nothing could be more exclusive of God and of potential converts than this. Had we encountered many parishes in the form they are today, it is unlikely that we would have ever converted. So obscured has the nature and mission of the Church become in so many places. More positively, this helps us to realize something of the wonder of God's timing and Divine Pedagogy in the life of our family. In so many ways, Our Blessed Lord brought us in at just the right time. But what of those who come after us when the engineered shortage of priests has heralded the era of widespread lay-leadership at the parish level?

In the late 80's, when Capital City was 'in', I already had a professional job in a high-street bank. I was therefore quite temporally - though not spiritually - satisfied with money, status and things. What I needed was God and His Church.

When I first encountered Quarant' Ore - as pictured above at English Martyrs, Litherland late in 1990 - I was given the grace to know that God was Present in the Monstrance on the Altar. 

This was an example of sheer grace. Deo Gratias! 

If we are serious about evangelization - new or otherwise - we need sometimes to set aside our pastoral plans, questionnaires, tick-lists and circular discussion groups. Instead we need to fall prostrate before the Living God.

Perhaps then we will become so in awe of the fact that we are made in the imago Dei, that we will be less inclined to try and re-make the Church in our image. We may become so interested in being changed by the Church, that we will have less time, or will, to try and change Her. This - rather than fashion - partly explains why so many Catholics are giving up on Novus Ordo parishes and travelling fair distances to join communities where the Traditional Liturgy is normative. 

And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, the glory as of the Only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (Last Gospel, Traditional Latin Mass). 

In Part 2 of this brief 4-part series, I hope to offer some reflections on the part of apologetics in my conversion to the Catholic Faith.

Some Good News About the Synod - At Last!


Torch of The Faith News on Wednesday 04 March 2015 - 12:53:55 | by admin

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Cardinal Angelo Amato, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, has announced that the parents of St. Therese of Lisieux - Blessed Louis and Blessed Zelie Martin - will be canonized this October, during the Synod in Rome.

This is splendid news - Let us thank Heaven for it!

As a married couple, the Martins lovingly lived out their Catholic Faith in the heart of their family, home, workplace and parish. Like little St. Therese, they teach us that holiness can be reached by co-operating with grace in even the smallest details of everyday family life. They are examples of good parenting, sound governance and authentic education. This exemplary married couple provide a timely model of charity, chastity and that grace-filled family unity which holds the balance of play, prayer and work in harmony. With the model of the Holy Family at the centre of their home, the Martins were enabled to find Christ at the heart of all their works, prayers, joys and sufferings. 

The Martins had nine children; four of these died in infancy and the five daughters, who survived into adulthood, all became religious sisters. The most famous of these was, of course, St. Therese of Lisieux.

In the coming months, let us pray to this exemplary Catholic married couple for the Synod on Marriage to affirm, defend and clearly articulate the constant teaching of the Magisterium, on the Sacrament of Marriage, for the people of our time.

May the Synod be transformed into a shining beacon of authentic Catholic teaching for the glory of God, the good of the Church, the salvation and sanctification of souls, and the well-being of society.

St. Therese, Blessed Louis and Blessed Zelie Martin - Pray for us!      

Food for the Soul!


Torch of The Faith News on Tuesday 03 March 2015 - 11:00:13 | by admin

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Fr. John Seddon - Requiescat in Pace


Torch of The Faith News on Monday 02 March 2015 - 13:33:12 | by admin

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We were saddened to hear that Fr. John Seddon had died on Friday, aged 62. I met Fr. Seddon a number of times over the years - both at Ushaw Seminary and around the Archdiocese of Liverpool. 

It would be fair to say that we had rather a different understanding of things in the Church. Nevertheless, I was always struck by his welcoming and big-hearted nature. He was gregarious with a developed sense of humour. As a priest, he also cultivated a deep prayer life with the Lord. 

Regular readers will recognize that Crosby Beach has been an important part of my life and walk with God. This was something I had in common with Fr. Seddon, who wrote: ''It is here, where the River Mersey meets the sea, that I find myself especially close to God.'' Indeed, the waterfront at Burbo Bank inspired him to write a book called Meditations by the Sea. My Dad had a copy of this and sometimes used it as an aid to prayer. During his life, Fr. Seddon spent many hours of prayer down at Burbo Bank. 

Indeed, the sea formed an important part of Fr. Seddon's whole life and priesthood. Prior to becoming a priest, he was in the Naval Reserve as a seaman, gunner, minesweeper and trainee ship driver. Having been ordained in the Archdiocese of Liverpool in 1985, eventually serving as parish priest at St. Michael's in Kirkby, he also served for many years as the Apostleship of the Sea's Port Chaplain. In that role, he would travel as Catholic Chaplain on at least 25 long-range cruises. 

Fr. Seddon was also known and loved throughout the country for his work as National Chaplain (R.C.) for Scouts. 

His love of people, outgoing nature and experiences as a policeman and office-worker in younger days made him a popular figure in his various pastoral roles.

In his work for the Apostleship of the Sea, Fr. Seddon gave a good deal of pastoral support to people who had lost loved ones, and also to many crew members from the Philippines and Goa. For many of these - devout Catholics who were far from home and parish - the presence of Fr. Seddon on their vessels at Christmas and Easter was the only chance they could get to go to Confession. His availability to help passengers and crew travelling on the cruises even helped some lapsed Catholics to come back to the practice of the faith after many years of absence.

Fr. Seddon was very popular with scouts and scout leaders throughout England through his work as their National (R.C.) Chaplain. A scout using the name 'Big Chris' has paid a tribute to Fr. Seddon on an internet forum. He described him as a ''big, gentle, funny scouser.'' This gentleman explains that he first met Fr. Seddon in 1995, and that this meeting helped him to grieve for his Mum, who had died some time before: ''I don't know what he said. I remember how he said it.''

'Big Chris' also noted: ''My atheist best-friend said that camping with Fr. John was the only thing that ever made him question whether there might really be a God.''

Here is one of the prayers from Fr. Seddon's book Meditations by the Sea: ''Lord, help us to forget self and to learn the art of selfless love. Help us to reach out with Your love and care to the lame and the needy in our midst.'' 

Fr. John Seddon's funeral arrangements are to be confirmed, so please check before setting off for the Cathedral. However, the provisional information is as follows:- 

Fr. Seddon's mortal remains will be received into the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King at 19.00hrs on Thursday, 5th March.

His funeral Mass will be offered at 11.00hrs on Friday, 6th March.

Please remember him, his family and his friends in your prayers.

Eternal rest grant unto him dear Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him, and may he rest in peace. Amen. 

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