Held
at Clergy House, Westminster Cathedral (Rm 4, 42 Francis St.)
Saturday,
28th April at 11:30, on the Feast of St Louis-Marie Grignon de Montfort
Present: Stephen de la Bédoyère, Preceptor,
Martin Blake, Richard Coles, Kts; Peter S, Mary R, Servants O.L.; Pierre
Vallerie, Ian Gordon, Lindy Wiltshire, Friends O.L.
Apologies: Andrew
Cesana, Jean-Paul Gauthier, Kts.
Please note that
our April Quarterly Chapter today combines with attendance at the Memorial Mass
for our sister Rosemary Rendel, which takes place in the Cathedral Lady Chapel
at 2:00 this afternoon. The Mass is also a memorial one for the late Joe Farrelly,
Knight of St Gregory and pillar of the Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin
Mary. Resquiescant in Pace.
READING
FROM THE RULE: Ch. 17, Secs. 1 to 3, by Ian Gordon
COMMENTARY
ON THE RULE:
Today I’d like to take from the Master’s
Directive on ‘Action’ the section on Life and the Family. We listened in
September to John Smeaton’s eloquent appeal to get involved in the defence of
unborn and elderly life in our society, and as a Preceptory we certainly need
our man in the pro-Life movement! But at a more basic level, it is obvious
because marriage is such a fundamental social relationship that the knight’s
family life is also his first apostolate… his first knightly action!
Even those of us who are unmarried have
family relationships … a parent who has to be cared for is an example. I’m not
married, but I have a very wide extended family, which means a great deal to
me. The text of the Rule gives such a beautiful picture of what a Christian
family should be like.
Concern about the widespread attack on the
reality of marriage by aggressive secularism in the second half of the XXth
century led our brother Carlos Gomes Aguiar in Portugal to propose the creation
of the MSM’s own apostolate – the International Familiaris Consortio Institute,
which came into existence in 2008. A seminar in Braga in 2010 attended by a
senior figure in the Pontifical Council for the Family and different
delegations of the MSM is to be followed by the first MSM Congress in October
2012 in Paris. Details of this accompany this summary.
Around 40 years of teaching has shown me a
radical and very negative change in family life, even in the context of Catholicism.
Until the ‘60s, a family was a community formed by two people of complementary
gender in a state of total self-giving expressed in the generation and
education of new life. Now, a family is a contract between two adults –usually
of different genders- with an idea that children ought to be a consequence of
this living together. Today, a family consists of two equals with maybe some
dependents … In the Christian vision, the family consists of three superiors:
each partner regards the other as superior and both regard their children as
superior to them!
As a nation, can Britain be comfortable at
having legalised abortion before so many other countries, at promoting
contraceptive population control in the Third World and facilitating euthanasia
among our aged? Now our government is trying to destroy Christian marriage
through adapting it to include homosexual partnerships… as if it could.
It seems to me that family today needs to
regain the two qualities of generosity and reciprocal self-giving . This was
John-Paul II’s vision and we hope to put it across via IFCI!
EXHORTATION:
All of us – married, unmarried – should
pray constantly for the truth of marriage and of family life, and help where possible
to strengthen families.
NEWS
OF THE ORDER:
The Master has reminded us that 2012 is the
Church’s Year of Faith, and suggests that each one rereads Paul VI’s ‘Credo of
the People of God. Maybe someone could check with CTS re availability of this
document and let me know.
NEWS
OF THE PRECEPTORY:
1. An Australian family man, David Sainty,
who is also, I believe, preparing to become a permanent deacon, will be
received with his wife Camelia, probably on Saturday, 2nd June in
the late afternoon, at Folkestone Catholic Church, by Fr Nesbitt, as a
brother-at-arms. He contacted us initially via Donal’s web-site and has taken
an interest in the MSM very seriously. He will be on a trip to Europe and will
be returning down-under on 4th June. Please attend the ceremony if
you can, and please pray for David, his family and his vocation. Jean-Paul will
be David’s ‘parrain’.
2. I now have the dates for August Chapter General in Montireau (Chartres), France:
- Saturday,
Sunday and Monday 11, 12 and 13 August, Formation seminar at Commanderie for
brothers-at-arms. This is only a requirement for bros. –at-arms.
- Tuesday, 14th
August: French Prioral Chapter at Commanderie: non obligatory.
- Wednesday, 15th
August: ASSUMPTION: we attend High Mass at Chartres, have lunch at the Sisters
of St Paul, and participate in the Procession during the afternoon. In the
evening, the International Chapter of Honour will be held at the Commanderie.
- Thursday, 16th
August: General Chapter at Commanderie: Obligatory for GB Observants.
I suggest that
if we are not attending the Seminar, we travel on Monday, 13th and
return on 17th morning. For some of us, Tuesday 14th could
be a day to visit Chartres and do our traditional pilgrimage to the Shrine of
St Anne at La Fontaine-Simon.
May I please
have your plans soon, to let the Guestmaster know how many Brits to expect.
2. It is good news that the Provost of the
Brompton Oratory is Fr Julian Large. We pray for the Fathers and Parish of the
Oratory at our Chapters, and I suggest a meeting with Fr Large to explain the
Knights to him.
INTERNATIONAL
FAMILIARIS CONSORTIO INSTITUTE:
1 . Today is the feast-day of St Gianna
Molla. Patron of IFCI.
2. Married members may consider joining the
National Association of Catholic Families: Please ask Preceptor for application
forms (one can join as a single member, too).
3. I enclose, as an annex, information
about the Paris Congress (12th to 14th October). Further
information will be communicated to those interested in attending when it
becomes available. Unfortunately, the date coincides with the annual Crusade of
Reparation in London where uniformed knights have participated alongside the
Knights of Malta at the head of the procession. It would be good if a couple of
knights could forego the Congress in order to represent us on the Crusade.
4. Although we have decided against the
expensive hire of a room for Chapter at Aylesford, our pilgrimage will go ahead
on Monday, 16th July. Please try to come. Mass will be at 12:00,
followed by our traditional picnic, a short Chapter and Office. Do pray for
good weather!
OLAF:
Currently the future profile of Our Lady’s
African Fund must depend on finding a few very committed collaborators. One or
two people have expressed their possible commitment – including a member of the
Knights – so I’ll have more news in May, Meanwhile:
a)
Bernard Wanjala expresses his
gratitude for a donation to cover his university fees, which will help with the
school fees on his children.
b)
George Ochieng expresses his
gratitude for a donation to cover the school fees of two of his children. He is
trying to develop a business venture in Nairobi.
c)
Please continue to pray for our African
beneficiaries, especially the children we sponsor at St Martin’s and
Strathmore.
STEPHEN’S
NEWS:
1. Although my Easter break seemed to
consist mostly of watching football on Spanish TV, I was able to visit the
Ransomer Church of Our Lady of Mercy and the Sagrada Familia to pray for the
MSM and IFCI (although I was unable to enter either church), while in
Barcelona.
2. I was able to attend the 1st Mass
of newly-ordained Fr James Bradley, a member of the Ordinariate, on Sunday, 22nd
April at Holy Ghost, Balham. I think that we should pray for his ministry.
3. I need to repaint the little statue of
Our Lady of Walsingham given me by John Piper and which I wish to turn over to
the Preceptory. I am looking for a plaster painter, and will offer per the cost
of materials.
MARTIN’S
NEWS: Martin spent Easter at Downside, and is
settling in
Henley near his daughter and her family. He
is to give a brief appreciation on behalf of the MSM of Rosemary Rendel at
today’s memorial Mass in the Lady Chapel at Westminster Cathedral.
ANDREW’S
NEWS: Mrs Cesana continues at home in fairly good
shape, but her care problems sometime require him to be at home by her side.
Current days with Mary include: today at Kensal Rise (near Peggy’s tomb) and
Roehampton on 19th May.
JEAN-PAUL’S
NEWS:
1. Jean-Paul begged leave to be excused
this Chapter, as his work keeps him abroad.
2. He has been in West Africa, and has made
contacts which can be relevant to OLAF, and the Preceptor will look at these in
that context.
3. He has been working on:
- Contacts with David Sainty, as above
- Fr. Rodger Hunter-Hall, in Washington: a possible
Chaplain, and others
- Creating a video of his dubbing for MSM
use
- Contributed to Master’s survey on long-distance
recruitment.
- IFCI: suggested we join the ‘Familias’
ministry
RICHARD’S
NEWS: Continues to wind up his mother’s estate in
Glos. He has used his time there well in ecumenical contacts during Lent,
confirming Catholic points when possible, and promoting the Coalition for
Marriage petition. He attended Clapham Park St Bede’s for Holy Week.
MARY’S
NEWS:
1. The Temple Church recital of Music in
the Middle Ages in Honour of Our Lady, in which Mary participated, was a great
success.
2. She will play ‘In Paradisum’ on the
bells this afternoon at Rosemary’s Memorial Mass.
PETER’S
NEWS: He continues his collection of Marian objets
d’art and documents, and archiving MSM documents. He is happy to be developing
personal friendships, often through his interest in antiquities. He and
Guillermo have been in contact regards the English Lady, about whom Bishop
Chartres of London will be giving a talk to the ESBVM soon.
PIERRE’S NEWS: His studies are currently taking him to linguistic issues
on names for Our Lady in Semitic languages.
IAN’S NEWS: Ian has been reading some of the basic texts about the MSM lent to him.
He has been particularly moved by ‘The True Devotion’ and Gautier’s ‘Chivalry’
which he continues. He and Maureen will be going on pilgrimage to the Holy land
in May.
LINDY’S NEWS: Lindy, a relative of Rosemary’s, is welcome to our
Chapter today. She is an oblate of Downside Abbey, where she recently met
Martin and the Catholic writer Dwight Longernecker.
FINANCES:
1. Our Treasurer, Kt. Martin Blake, stated
that the current income is: £360. Martin and I are both grateful for
subscriptions paid, but are sad to note that there are STILL outstanding subscriptions!
If you have problems paying, do get in touch with one of us (Martin’s address
is 28, War Memorial Close, HENLEY ON THAMES, RG9 1EP).
2. At Fr Bradley’s 1st Mass, the
Ordinariate again appealed for Funds, and I have some envelopes for this
purpose. Please be generous, but if you haven’t paid your MSM sub, please
prioritise the latter.
3. Information is coming through about the
financial difficulties of the Lanherne convent. Please pray for the Franciscan
community there.
HORARIUM:
1. I am considering the possibility of an
horarium for the 7 daily ‘hours’, by combining the use of the Latin-French MSM
Office with a single version of the Little Office BVM. We need 7 people who
will be prepared to say the Office one ‘hour’ daily. Do we have a contact
address for CARMEL of Plymouth? We’ll need a single English version for
Chapters and other joint activities of our Preceptory.
2. Meanwhile we can change the Horarium on
1st May. From May until July:
Kn.1: Stephen, Richard
Kn.2; Donal and
Kn3: Andrew, Pat and Ian
7
Hours ad experimentum: Gauthiers
FEASTS
and ANNIVERSARIES:
Tuesday, 1st May: St Joseph the
Worker, Patron of the MSM
Thursday, 10th May: Our Lady of
Pewe (Westminster Abbey)
Sunday, 13th May: Our Lady of
Fatima
Wednesday, 2nd May, John
Walker’s Birthday
Sunday, 13th May: Chevalier Yves
de Sagazan R.I.P. 1997
Tuesday, 15th May: U.N. Day for
the Family
PRAYER
INTENTIONS:
- Dead: We
think of all those who have died recently: Margaret Coles, Angie (Stephen’s
nephew Dan’s mother-in-law), John Powell, Julia Crowe, Phyllis Bowman,
co-foundress SPUC
- Sick: John Wrigley, John Walker, Stratford
Caldecott, Mrs. Cesana
- For continual
prayers: Fr James Bradley, Fr Rodger Hunter-Hall, David Sainty and family,
the Lanherne Community, Nicholas Lane
- Permanently
on our Prayer List: Pope Benedict and his intentions; Vocations to the MSM
and IFCI; OLAF and the children we are supporting; Foyers de Charité movement; Days with Mary; Friends of the
Holy Family; Confraternity of St James; Carmelite Nuns in Finland and
Nairobi; Society of Pewe; WAF; ESBVM; Billings Family Life Centre; Fathers
and Parishes of the Oratory and St Mary Magdalen’s; Elderly and sick
clergy whom we visit; Vocations to the priesthood, religious life and
marriage; Bishop Paul Hendricks and his intentions; Mgr. Keith Newton
and the Ordinariate of Our Lady of
Walsingham; Bishop Echeverria and the Prelature of Opus Dei; Bishop Alan
Hopes and his intentions.
NEXT
CHAPTERS:
Tuesday, 15th May, Oratory St
Michael’s, 6:45 – 8:00
Tuesday, 19th June, Oratory St
Michael’s, 6:45 – 8:00
Monday, 16th July, Patronal
Pilgrimage to Aylesford
Tuesday, 14 – Thursday, 16th
August: Assumption and MSM Chapter General
Saturday, 29th September:
Oratory St Michael’s 1:00 to 4:30 Chapter and annual OPEN DAY
Saturday, 13th October: Crusade
of Reparation, Westminster to Oratory: 1:30 to 5:30
Tuesday, 20th November, Oratory,
St Michael’s, 6:45 – 8:00
Saturday, 8th December: Oratory:
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION: Solemn Mass (morning): Please attend if possible.
Saturday, 26th Jan.2013: Oratory
Parlour 6, 1:00 to 3:30: Montfortian Consecration
CONCLUDING
PRAYERS
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