MILITIA SANCTAE MARIAE
Knights of Our Lady
G.B. Preceptory,
Tuesday, 19th
June, 2012, at the Brompton Oratory
Present: Stephen (Preceptor ), Kt; Richard C. Kt (N/A); Mary Remant, S.O.L. Pierre Vallerie, Ian Gordon, F.O.L.; Apologies: Jean-Paul Gauthier, Kt.
We recall the recent death (3rd June) of our brother John Wrigley, Kt. In the words of his daughter Celia he died surrounded by the prayers of his children. Let us, too, pray for the repose of his soul.
Reading from our Rule: Ch. II, Sections 7,9,10 by Richard.
Reading from the Master’s
Directive for 2012: Today we arrive at the final part of the Master’s
Directive, on STUDIES:
‘Programmes of formation, which vary in each country, are balanced and
in conformity with our foundational documents. The French example is
interesting because it goes beyond a simple intellectual formation and aims at
including the other areas where a novice needs to perfect himself. Just as my
predecessors, I am fond of repeating that the formation of a member of the MSM
is never complete, and we need to progress ceaselessly in the relevant areas of
knowledge. In fact, our Rule points this out in its ‘Summary of the Observances
of the Rule’: During the Year: study necessary for doctrinal formation. Furthermore I am planning to organise in France during the summer of
2012 – year of our General Chapter – an international session for the formation
of our novices. I am seeking your advice about the substance and form that this
gathering could take.’
COMMENTARY: Recently, we received here at the Oratory an Australian Brother
at Arms and wife as a Sister of the Order, David and Camelia Sainty. This is of
great joy for us, and his sponsor is and will be Jean-Paul. The topic of
studies in the MSM is very relevant. Chapter II of the Rule, in Section 9
states that ‘it is of our wisdom, not of our science, that the world has need’.
I believe that many Catholic theologians went off the tracks during the last
century because they inverted that truth, so when we talk about formative
studies in the MSM we are talking about prayer first of all, and communicating
Divine Truth (the Doctrine of the Catholic Church).
Sadly, scepticism and agnosticism have a subtle way of insinuating
themselves into our thought patterns, and never more so than this age in which
scientific theory claims infallibility in the media! This morning on the radio,
I heard a scientist claim that computers can now compose music. Actually,
listening to him, it turned out that the computer makes a noise and many, many
listeners decide what to retain and what to delete… thus it is they, not the
computer, who are composing the music!
Père Bernard Pellabeuf recently wrote a fascinating article called
‘Some Cultural Components of the New Evangelisation’ on his Pageliasse blog (you
can find it in English by googling that name). He tears apart many of the
assumptions on which contemporary thought is based. I can summarise what the
MSM’s chaplain wrote in words I read many years ago as a teacher training
student in a manual of the different philosophies of education current in 1970.
Archbishop Beck of Liverpool was writing then about the Thomist view of
education and started by saying: ‘It is true that in the modern world, we
concentrate more on the adjectival than the substantive view of man!’ Well, the
ongoing formation given in the MSM is definitely required to be substantive, as
is the New Evangelisation, and the formation given to David and any other
brother at arms who comes our way needs to be the foundation of the programme
to be followed in the future in our Preceptory.
EXHORTATION: Please note the Master’s words that ‘our formation is never
complete.’ We should have a regular habit of spiritual and theological reading,
in accordance with the priorities of the MSM and seeking advice, if necessary,
from prudent guides.
NEWS OF THE PRECEPTORY:
1. We were overjoyed to receive a new brother at arms on 2nd
June, but saddened on the 3rd by the death of Knight John Wrigley,
at the age of 85. Jean-Paul, Richard and I were able to participate in his
funeral in Folkestone in a very full church (John’s thirty or so descendants
and many parishioners!). Martin has prepared an obituary notice, which I am
editing and will send out with this Chapter summary. John was Martin’s first
recruit when the Preceptory started, resulting from an article that Martin wrote
in the Catholic Herald.
2. I should like to finalise Commandery dates, and arrange to buy
tickets a.s.a.p. I now have dates:
Martin, Andrew and Stephen will arrive on Monday 13th August
for the evening meal by train, while the Gordons will arrive at the same time
by car. Similarly, we will depart after breakfast on Friday, 17th
August.
3. I rang S.O.L. Harry Gibson today in Ferryhill. He is now very weak
and stays in bed all the time. I believe strongly in his prayers for the MSM.
4. Don’t forget our picnic pilgrimage to Aylesford on 16th
July. Mass at Midday, followed by a picnic and a brief Chapter and Office.
5. S.O.L. Donal Foley has kindly agreed to give the keynote talk on our
Open Day on 29th September: It will be entitled ‘From Heaven to
earth: the Marian Movements in the XXth Century’. You may duplicate the
invitation and distribute… and pray!
INTERNATIONAL FAMILIARIS
CONSORTIO INSTITUTE: The Preceptor was able, on Friday, 8th
June, to attend Mass and Adoration at St Paul’s Church, Tintagel, for family
life. He emphasises the importance of regular prayer for families throughout
the Church and the world. This is much desired by the Pope and bishops, and by
families themselves, often in great spiritual and material need. On Tuesday, 3rd July, the
Preceptor attended the memorial solemn Mass in Westminster Cathedral at 5:30 pm
for the late Phyllis Bowman, the tireless pro-life activist who was behind the
foundation of SPUC and Right to Life.
OLAF: Our friend
Bernard Wanjala needs some financing for his postgraduate studies in
Philosophy, and I told him that we will do what we can. He needs around £850
and we have in the coffers £550. I hope to meet 2/3 friends at the end of July,
who have expressed an interest in developing the Fund. Prayers, please.
STEPHEN’S NEWS: Stephen had a
break at Quarr from 31st July
to 10th August. His retreat at Chilworth will be from 25th
to 27th August. Observants are
reminded about our duty to make an annual retreat.
MARTIN’S NEWS: He attended the
AGM of the Friends of the Holy Father (as did Mary ).
ANDREW’S NEWS: Andrew attended
the D. w. M. at Westminster Cathedral. Fr Gabriele gave a couple of sermons,
dealing with self-sacrifice and the Holy Spirit. Further D.s w. M. include:
Balham on 14th July and Spanish Place on 18th August
JEAN-PAUL’S NEWS:
1. Jean-Paul attended the inauguration of St Augustine’s Shrine at
Ramsgate, and related activities, including D. w. M. with Andrew.2. Initial contact with Archbishop Smith and his secretary.
3. Various networking contacts: Fr Lindlar of the Ordinariate, Fr Marcus Holden of the Shrine, and Andrew Sharp of the ‘Friends of St Augustine.’
4. Initiated Bro. David’s formational programme, and sent Ian Gordon formational documents.
5. Is helping to prepare the ‘St Henry’ formational seminars that will precede the Chapters at the Commandery in August
6. Brief trip with Kofo to Paris, where he met the Master et al.
7. Is developing the content and usefulness of Blog and Linkedin sites.
8. Has visited Botswana for professional reasons.
RICHARD’S NEWS:
1. Richard has spent time in the West Country attending Mass at St
James’ Winchcombe (The local Anglican church has Santiago connections) and in
Bishop’s Cleeve (formerly the house of a Catholic convert).2. He attended an important meeting of the LMS at Regent Hall in London, with a distinguished list of speakers; Fr Tim Finigan made the connection between the extraordinary liturgy and the pro-life movement.
MARY’S NEWS:
1. Attended the Sistine Choir choral concert was at Westminster
Cathedral. 2. She has not been in touch with Fr McGurk of Belmont Abbey.
PETER’S NEWS: Peter attended a
talk to the ESBVM about the statue of ‘The English Lady’, now in Mondonyedo
(N.W. Spain) by bishop Chartres of London, and is in correspondence with our Br.
Guillermo Rolland. The idea is to develop interest in it in England.
PIERRE’s NEWS: He recently
attended the silver jubilee of ordination of a Chinese priest at Notre Dame de
France, and continues his etymological studies of sacred texts.
IAN’s NEWS: He gave us an
interesting outline of his and Maureen’s Holy Land pilgrimage, concerned about
the increasing Moslem influence in Bethlehem. He made mention of the Knights of
the Holy Sepulchre. They were able to attend the magnificent High Mass at
Westminster Cathedral, to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee, and a seminar at
Heythrop College.
FEASTS and ANNIVERSARIES:
11th July, St Benedict, patron of MSM, co-patron of Europe16th July, Our Lady of Carmel, co-patron of GB Preceptory
26th July, SS. Joachim and Anne, parents of Our Lady
6th August, Transfiguration 72nd birthday of MSM
15th August, ASSUMPTION of Our Lady, Solemn feast of MSM
20th August, St Bernard, patron of the MSM
22nd August, Our Lady, Queen
8th September, Birthday of Our Lady
15th September, Sorrows of Our Lady
22nd September: Novena to Ste Therese for vocations to MSM starts today
24th September, Our Lady of Ransom
29th September: ST MICHAEL ARCHANGEL, Grand Master of MSM: Quarterly Chapter and Annual Open Day of GB Preceptory (Talk by Donal on Marian Movements)
PRAYER INTENTIONS:
1. The Dead: We think of all those who have died recently: John
Wrigley, Hugh Mountney, Dame Phyllis Bowman, Bernard Cullen.
2. Sick: Peter Sibley, Harry Gibson, Mrs Cesana, Joyce Palmer, Stratford
Caldecott, Fr. Norman Brown. We also pray for F.O.L. Joyce Palmer, a devout Anglican, now 92, nearly
blind and deaf with mobility problems, and suffering from loneliness and an
increasing need for personal care.
3. For continual prayers: The
Wrigley family, Nicholas Lane, Archbishop Mennini
4. Permanently on our Prayer List: Pope Benedict and his intentions, Vocations
to the MSM and IFCI, OLAF and the children we are supporting, Foyer 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. Newton and the
Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, Bishop Echeverria and the Prelature of
Opus Dei, Bishop Alan Hopes and his intentions.
A.O.B. We need to
consider how to observe the Year of Faith beginning in October.
Concluding prayers: Prayer to Our
Lady of Chivalry, Chapter of Faults, SME Compline and Inviolata.
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