Meam Commemorationem

New Blog Site

2007-08-11T17:45:00.000+01:00

Please Be ADVISED that meam commemorationem is now moving to a new site with a new look and broader direction. My new site is called de cura animarum "about the cure of souls". This new site will be broader in its theological discussions than the previous blog and will contain more discussion about Catholic issues and Anglican Communion issues as well. Meam commemorationem began as a blog

Decision Made: St. Andrews it is!

2007-08-09T17:22:00.000+01:00

Well, I have made my decision after some long hours of thought and weighing the issues involved in my particular circumstance with my supervisor. I have really learned a lot from Professor David Brown and he has supported my work and directed it to what he says is going to be a good thesis in the end. All of his PhD candidates are also successful when they go for the viva too! That is, David

A Major Decision to Make: Durham? or St. Andrews?

2007-08-08T14:09:00.000+01:00

I am writing to ask for the prayers of all my readers. I have a very big decision to make very soon. My PhD supervisor, Professor David Brown, is leaving the University of Durham and is going to St. Andrews University in Scotland. I am at the end of my research and writing and obviously I need to make an important decision.I have paid the full tuition at Durham already and do not owe any more

Most Holy Theotokos Save Us!

2007-08-08T10:29:00.000+01:00

I have added a link to the little chant (The Small Paraklesis to the Theotokos) to the Holy Theotokos for your prayerful and listening pleasure. Enjoy!

Music on the Blog

2007-08-07T16:53:00.001+01:00

I have put a link on the blog on the right where you can listen to "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" a Cherubic hymn at the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great on the Holy Saturday. I put it in this format so that you, the reader, can choose to listen or not to listen while you surf about. I hope you enjoy it! Do click on it while you surf about my site and leave a comment to let me know what

St. John Chrysostom: Christian Priesthood, Bk.III.4

2007-08-05T21:30:00.000+01:00

4. For the priestly office is indeed discharged on earth, but it ranks amongst heavenly ordinances; and very naturally so: for neither man, nor angel, nor archangel, nor any other created power, but the Paraclete Himself, instituted this vocation, and persuaded men while still abiding in the flesh to represent the ministry of angels. Wherefore the consecrated priest ought to be as pure as if he

St. John Chrysostom: Christian Priesthood, Bk.II.2

2007-08-05T21:14:00.000+01:00

2. Will you, then, still contend that you were not rightly deceived, when you are about to superintend the things which belong to God, and are doing that which when Peter did the Lord said he should be able to surpass the rest of the apostles, for His words were, “Peter, lovest thou me more than these?”70 In some editions the words “tend my sheep” are added here.Yet He might have said to him, “If

Women Bishops in the Church of Wales

2007-08-04T17:10:00.000+01:00

I received the report of the Bill from the Church of Wales that is being put forth for the ordination of women to the episcopacy. I must confess that the rationale for this innovation is so far reaching in its "political" justification that I am finding it harder and harder to get my head around it as I think about the issue ecclesiologically. Bishop David Thomas has pointed out a serious issue

Andrewes: Eucharistic Presence and Incarnation

2007-08-02T15:44:00.000+01:00

I have been tied up with my new title parish in the C of E by trying to get my mind and body into the rhythm of Church life and out of full-time academia. Thankfully, I am now back to serious writing and thinking in order that I finish my PhD as well. I have done some re-reading of Andrewes' sermons on the incarnation and find his explanation of Eucharistic presence described within the

"Well, if it's a symbol, to hell with it."

2007-08-01T21:40:00.000+01:00

I love what Flannery O'Connor says in this piece! It is so outstanding and this is one lady that I would have loved to see in the world of blogging!I was once, five or six years ago, taken by some friends to have dinner with Mary McCarthy and her husband, Mr. Broadwater. (She just wrote that book, "A Charmed Life.") She departed the Church at the age of 15 and is a Big Intellectual. We went at

Anglicans for Life

2007-07-29T14:25:00.001+01:00

Go give Anglicans for Life a look through and pray about becoming a member and supporting this very important cause that promotes life as humans created in the image of God. May God give his world a heart for the unborn and those for whom the secular world views as less valuable.

Garden Party at the Clergy House

2007-07-29T13:50:00.000+01:00

Yesterday we had a beautiful day in Durham and were able to get away from the very wet weather for a few hours and had our Garden Party. We were able to raise a good amount of money and we are thankful to all who worked so hard to make it the success that it was. There were a number of good pictures that we were able to get off and you can see those on our church web site that is now up and

Summer Cookout

2007-07-28T20:15:00.000+01:00

At the ordination we had a lot of friends come over for a cookout! It was great fun and I put a few of the pictures up here.

RooT: Religious of orthodox Tradition

2007-07-26T15:21:00.000+01:00

Here is the new site from RooT that should be most useful to those in the Catholic Tradition that was announced by FiF today. Give them a visit and pass on the details to others.

Parish Church Website

2007-07-24T16:12:00.000+01:00

One of our members and I are building a website for our parish church. It is nowhere near finished yet but we are under way. I toss it out here for any comments or suggestions. It is a free domain so we are only able to do so much with it at this point. Brandon parish.

++Sentamu, ++Armagh, Scholasticus and the Doctrine of the Church

2007-07-24T11:24:00.000+01:00

I have great respect for my Archbishop but I tend to disagree with some recent comments. I also count John Scholasticus as a dear friend though we differ on the issues at hand--possibly more than I had imagined but maybe not. I pray that what is written below is true and accurate of my views and understanding of the current debates.With the recent comments coming from the Abp of York and hence

Pictures in the Parish: St. John the Evangelist

2007-07-23T21:50:00.000+01:00

Tonight Fr. Peter and I took some pictures in the parish for the web site I am working on with Karen who worships with us at St. Catherine's in New Brancepeth. CLICK ON THE PICTURE AT IT WILL ENLARGE.

The Looming of Daftness

2007-07-23T16:48:00.000+01:00

I read the Telegraph on the interview with the AB of York and I humbly come away scratching my head with utter disappointment in its tone and what appears to be an absence of clear thinking. His words seem to undermine Windsor and the theology behind the Covenant and I am confused as to why he would make such statements in the fragile situation we find ourselves in. Ecclesiologically, I have a

Settling into Parish Life

2007-07-21T22:24:00.000+01:00

It has been about five or so days since I blogged anything and much longer since I blogged anything of any great worth. I have been quite busy settling into my parish life in Durham and into our new home etc. It is nice to be back to the task of preparing sermons, visiting the sick, taking the Blessed Sacrament to the sick, celebrating the liturgy of the Church, working on a new parish web site

Christ Reigning in Culture: Poland's Righteousness

2007-07-17T10:48:00.000+01:00

The recent news out of Poland is amazing! What a contrast from us in our western materialistic worldview! This sort of law that Poland has put into place will transform their culture. O, how I pray for such a resurrection of the Faith in our land!Polish parliamentarians have voted to ban trading on Roman Catholic feast days after complaints that foreign supermarkets, such as British-owned Tesco,

We Need this Video for a FiF UK Video for Vocations

2007-07-16T14:31:00.000+01:00

Take Jesus to the Streets and "Come, follow Me!"

Is Pope Benedict XVI Turning the Clock Back?

2007-07-13T10:26:00.000+01:00

See this Article.I really do not see what all the fuss is about concerning the Pope's recent statements. He is simply restating the Catholic Church's teachings. Why this has so many from other religions and Protestants acting all surprised and offended is irrational to me and seems to be juvenile behaviour at best. This shows how far our culture has gone down the road of relativism and its denial

Zenit Interview on Rome's Clarification on THE Church

2007-07-11T17:01:00.000+01:00

Read it all.Q: Could you outline the major points that the document addresses?Father Di Noia: There really are two main points, and then some minor points.The main point is to address the question of whether the Second Vatican Council changed the Church's teaching on the nature of the Church herself, and this document tries to clarify this point to say no -- it was a development, a deepening, but

In Vocation

2007-07-10T10:07:00.000+01:00

I am presently thinking through a good design for our parish web site so that we can have a nice site for people who are looking for a parish church in the Catholic Tradition in Durham. This will hopefully be up and running in the near future. For the time, we have a site that has been up. I will be getting with the kind parishioner who put up our site so that we can update it and create

Deacons with Bishop Tom

2007-07-05T08:24:00.001+01:00

Here is a photo of the deacons with Bishop Tom after ordination on Sunday. I am pictured to the left of the Bishop behind and to the right of +Tom's chaplain Canon Jon Bell. This photo followed our receiving of the licences for our parishes. You can see the link of the names on the diocesan website. The photo is taken in the Galilee Chapel directly behind the shrine of St. Bede.

Ordination to Holy Orders

2007-07-02T07:44:00.000+01:00

This is a quick note to just say thank you to all of you have been praying for my ordination into Holy Orders in the Church of England. All went very well yesterday in Durham Cathedral. The service was beautiful and the cathedral was packed. There will be pictures coming soon from the even once we get them all sorted. I am also waiting for a CD of pictures from the photographer who photographed

Retreat and Ordination

2007-06-24T21:04:00.000+01:00

The time has now come for the final preparation for ordination. I leave on Tuesday for my retreat with the Bishop of Durham, The Rt. Rev'd Dr. N.T. Wright which will be held at Minsteracres. We will be there from Tuesday evening through Saturday afternoon and ordination in Durham Cathedral Sunday morning. The retreat will be in silence except for the offices of the day and the addresses given.

Benedict XVI on Presence

2007-06-21T20:04:00.000+01:00

The Lord Is Near Us in Our Conscience, in His Word,in His Personal Presence in the EucharistA Homily on Deuteronomy 4:7In today's reading there is a marvelous saying, in which we can sense all the joy of Israel at its redemption: "What great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?" (Deut 4:7).Saint Thomas Aquinas took up this saying in

Newest Member of the Family

2007-06-21T13:06:00.000+01:00

We have a new member of the family and her name is Mandy. She is just 7-8 weeks old and is a bundle of laughs and joy. We are very happy to have our new vicarage cat!

Durham Diocese announces new Suffragan

2007-06-21T10:19:00.000+01:00

Mark Bryant (aged 57) studied for the ordained ministry at Cuddesdon College. He served curacies at Addlestone, Guildford from 1975 to 1979, and from 1979 to 1983 at Studley, Salisbury. He was then Vicar of Studley from 1983 to 1988. From 1979 to 1983 he was also Chaplain to Trowbridge College. From 1988 to 1996 he was Vocational Development Adviser, Coventry diocese, and Diocesan Director of

Forming the Priesthood

2007-06-21T09:13:00.000+01:00

Having attended formational institutions on both sides of the Atlantic, I find that there is a lot to be said for Mr. Skublics contribution here. Though there are some differences with what it means to be 'in residence' in regards to married ordinands and their responsibilities first and foremost to their families, these comments and actions are much needed. I have recently finished a place of '

Junia, A Woman Apostle?

2007-06-19T07:41:00.000+01:00

The argument has been frequently used in Anglican circles to argue for the ordination of women to the office of bishop with the below passage as the basis for it. It seems to me that one must invoke Tradition in light of these discussions, which is often absent. St. Chrysostom does speak highly of Junia among the Apostles but he does not give her Apostolic Succession with the Apostles as it seems

Unpacking and Pilgrimage to Walsingham

2007-06-11T15:29:00.000+01:00

I have finished unpacking and setting up my study today! I was up until 2:30 am this morning! It is good to have it all in order now. I had about 110 feet of shelf put up yesterday and now all of my books are out and I literally do not have room for one more book! It was a chore to get it finished but I persevered this morning and have filed all but my articles from my University study that I

Hooker, Andrewes, Aquinas and Transubstantiation

2007-06-08T15:35:00.000+01:00

This text is taken from a portion of my thoughts in my ongoing dissertation. This is original material belonging to the Rev'd Jeffrey Steel, Durham University UK. Richard Hooker in his Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity maintains the Reformed position of instrumentality of the elements which communicate the Body and Blood of Christ to the faithful.[1] He writes that the ‘bread and cup are his body and

Computer Issues and a New Home

2007-06-02T08:24:00.000+01:00

We have had a heck of a few days!! The day before I was to move house for my curacy here in Durham, my computer went out on me. Thankfully, all on my hard drive was able to be recovered!! But you could only imagine the stress that I had having not backed up the last two weeks worth of work!! But, God was good in the midst. I walked to the computer shop he assessed the damage, told me the cost so

The Day of Pentecost: Icon of the Church

2007-05-26T21:58:00.000+01:00

In his book on Images of Hope, Pope Benedict XVI writes the following on Pentecost: A tongue of fire has been added to being human. We must now correct this expression. Fire is never something that is simply due to another and therefore exists beside him. Fire burns and transforms. Faith is a tongue of fire that burns us and melts us so that ever more it is true: I and no longer I. Whoever, of

A Gift From God

2007-05-26T18:10:00.000+01:00

Today we were able to get the new car pictured here. My friend from Australia who is a Roman Catholic priest doing a PhD here at Durham University sold us this car for a great price and under the value it holds. It is a true gift and we are thankful for God providing this for us as it was much needed!

Ordination Announcement

2007-05-25T13:03:00.000+01:00

This is to formally announce my ordination that is to take place on 1 July 2007 at 10:00 am at the Durham Cathedral by The Rt. Rev'd Dr. N.T. Wright. I am finishing up my formative training at Cranmer, St. John's College Durham University on 8 June. We move into our new home on 1 June (next Friday) in Durham, which is where I will be for the next few years while I am a curate at St. John the

Could it be discrimination to believe in marriage now?

2007-05-23T21:46:00.000+01:00

Marriage is my thing: New Directions May 2007. This is frightening!'Sexuality is ordered to the conjugal love of man and woman. In marriage the physical intimacy of the spouses becomes a sign and pledge of spiritual communion. Marriage bonds between baptized persons are sanctified by the sacrament' [Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2360]. In explaining the Christian understanding of marriage

More Reformed Scholars Going to Rome

2007-05-22T14:32:00.001+01:00

See the conversion story of another Reformed Scholar going to Rome. Will the Protestants wake up to what is happening? Read the actual conversion story here.

Lambeth Invitations: Who is Going? Who Isn't?

2007-05-22T13:47:00.000+01:00

The invitations to the Lambeth Conference 08 are going out now from Lambeth Palace. There has been a lot of speculation about who is going and who isn't. Provinces in the Global South have made it perfectly clear that if the American bishops who voted for Gene Robinson or took part in the consecration are invited or Gene Robinson himself, then they will NOT be coming. So, the Archbishop of

It's My Right: Putting Demands of Self over Scripture

2007-05-19T10:44:00.000+01:00

One of the crucial issues facing the Church in the West is that the damands placed upon the Church are spoken from individuals who claim it is their right to believe and live as they please rather than submitting to the authority of Sacred Scripture. We live in a day of radical individualism where everyone seems to do what is right in their own eyes. Scripture is read with the refrain 'This is

Archbishop Orombi: Guard the Faith!

2007-05-18T21:57:00.000+01:00

The Archbishop of Uganda has clearly spoken about the nature of the Communion and the seriousness of the fracture within it. He also makes it perfectly clear that if the Americans, including Robinson, his bishops will not be attending Lambeth 08. This will all be very sad indeed. But the call is clear for the Church he says and no matter what culture says, the Church is Church and though she has

CT Interviews Dr. Beckwith on his Re-version to Rome

2007-05-16T10:36:00.000+01:00

Christianity Today interviewed Dr. Beckwith on his conversion to Rome. He states that he will be coming out with a book or a substantive article on why he converted in the near future. Take a look and leave comments.

Out of Your League? Beckwith Matters!

2007-05-15T22:30:00.000+01:00

I have been reading a bit of the Beckwith news about his return to Rome. You can find a reference to his journey below; not that it should be such a big deal when questions about the ongoing necessity of the Reformation are becoming more prominent in our day. But that is an issue for another time. Nevertheless, Dr. Liccione's excellent response to Dr. Trueman from Ref21 is argued well and as a

Cyril: Life from the flesh of Christ

2007-05-15T17:59:00.000+01:00

We find Andrewes very sympathetic with the language of Cyril of Alexandria who speaks of the life-giving flesh of Christ in the Eucharist. Cyril is reflecting on John 6.53 and writes,And since the flesh of the Saviour has become life giving (as being united to that which is by nature life, the Word from God), when we taste it, then we have life ourselves, we too united to it as it to the

Cyril of Alexandria: A Source for Andrewes' Eucharistic Christology

2007-05-14T22:43:00.000+01:00

I have been reading tonight a book on Cyril's Christology and Eucharistic theology and have found what appears to be the source for how Andrewes is interpreting his Eucharistic theology with Christological categories. In his commentary on John's Gospel, Cyril points out the close connection of union (from John 17) to be a result of the Eucharistic sharing in the humanity and divinity of Christ.

Fr. Dwight Longenecker: Ordaining Relativism

2007-05-14T06:40:00.000+01:00

National Catholic RegisterWhat do you think? Does it take Peter's voice alone or is his the alone voice? What about the relativism argument here? Let's hear from you!I was living in England and working as an Anglican priest when the Church of England finished debating the question of women’s ordination. The Church was in great turmoil over the question, and many priests and people threatened to

May 2007 New Directions

2007-05-06T21:51:00.000+01:00

Just in case any of you are readers of New Directions I thought I would post that the May issue was now available on line. If you would like to make a donation, I am sure they would appreciate the support! If nothing else, it is worth looking at when you see the cover!!!

ETS President Dr. Francis Beckwith Returns to Rome

2007-05-06T19:25:00.000+01:00

This news has obviously caused a great stir amongst Evangelical Protestants. There is much more of this to come I imagine with the present state of division and creeds of Protestantism. Take a read of it yourself. I welcome comments. 'My Return to Rome'.The past four months have moved quickly for me and my wife. As you probably know, my work in philosophy, ethics, and theology has always been

A Catholic Priest Reaching the Youth: Fr. Stan Fortuna

2007-05-06T16:11:00.000+01:00

This Roman Catholic priest is really loved here in the North of England. I would love to have him here in our parish church to reach the youth in Durham. Take a look at the two videos here and listen to the message. The first one is called the School of the Eucharist and the second is the song 'Everybody got 2 suffer'.

Eucharist: Encountering the Humanity of Jesus

2007-05-04T18:20:00.000+01:00

The following sermon was Preached on 28th January 2007 (The Fourth Sunday of Epiphany) by The Reverend Canon Dr David Brown FBA at the Durham Cathedral. Professor Brown is my PhD supervisor at Durham University. Today's gospel is the same as what you will hear if you attend the sung Eucharist for Candlemas this coming Friday evening. So, rather than have Canon Cherry and I competing as to who

FiFUK: Response to Affirming Catholicism

2007-05-02T17:44:00.000+01:00

FiFUKThe recently published Affirming Catholicism submission to the Legislative Drafting Group engages directly with our own submission Consistent with Canon A4, which we published only after the Drafting Group had had ample time to consider it. The members of the Affirming Catholicism Working Party judge that our arguments on the meaning and effect of Canon A4 “cannot be sustained” (p.24). The

Being a Better Dad!

2007-05-01T09:34:00.001+01:00

I just posted a link to my side bar under links and it is called Dads.org. This is an outstanding site with some very practical material for Christian fathers. In the business of schedules and the many directions in which we are pulled, Dads.org is a resource that is very helpful. Pass it on to your friends if you find it useful. It comes highly recommended to all of us who could be better dads.

Chesterton: Thought for the Day

2007-04-28T15:46:00.000+01:00

FOR those who study the great art of lying in bed there is one emphatic caution to be added. Even for those who cannot do their work in bed (as, for example, the professional harpooners of whales), it is obvious that the indulgence must be very occasional. But that is not the caution I mean. The caution is this:

St. Gregory of Nyssa and Andrewes: Transelementation

2007-04-28T13:56:00.000+01:00

In my present writing on Andrewes' understanding of Eucharistic presence, I find him in very close agreement with St. Gregory of Nyssa on the transelementation of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus. Gregory writes the following: By dispensation of His grace, He disseminates Himself in every believer through that flesh, whose existence comes from bread and wine, blending Himself

ARCIC on Eucharistic Presence

2007-04-26T11:19:00.000+01:00

III. THE PRESENCE OF CHRISTCommunion with Christ in the eucharist presupposes his true presence, effectually signified by the bread and wine which, in this mystery, become his body and blood. The real presence of his body and blood can, however, only be understood within the context of the redemptive activity whereby he gives himself, and in himself reconciliation, peace and life, to his own. On

The Cross and the Caricatures

2007-04-26T09:35:00.000+01:00

The debate of 'penal substitution' is growing and developing into a serious debate again. Bishop Tom Wright and others are engaged in an exchange over the recent words of Dean Jeffrey John of St. Alban's Cathedral. Visit this exchange and leave your thoughts and remarks here. Read the entire of Bishop Tom's response here. A portion from it is below. Also, on Anglican Mainstream there is a

Catholic, looking for a place to train?

2007-04-24T11:43:00.000+01:00

Where do you go to train for ministry? A very important question and greatly dependent upon one's tradition. If you are an Anglican who is Catholic in ecclesiology and sacramental theology where would you go?St. Stephen's House, Oxford is having an open house day on Saturday May, 5, 2007. It is recommended that you spend some time in theological colleges and ask students and staff questions about

Patrick Henry Reardon: The Way the Truth and the Life

2007-04-24T11:35:00.000+01:00

New DirectionsThe way, the truth and the life.When we look at Jesus, we are faced with something radically different. All who heard him recognized that he taught as 'One having authority.' Jesus expounded no truths transcendent to himself: what he taught was otherwise unknowable and inaccessible.Indeed, how would we know that we have a heavenly Father who loves and cares for us, except on the

Looking Eastward?

2007-04-24T10:57:00.000+01:00

In an article in the New Oxford Review in the October 2003 edition contained the following article: Is there hope of a reunion of East and West? How far is it off? Is the author of the following article correct?November 2003 By Charles A. CoulombeCharles A. Coulombe is author of Vicars of Christ: A History of the PopesMuch of my teenage years were spent in the San Fernando Valley of California,

Lovat & Douglas: Habermas and Eucharistic Theology

2007-04-17T08:47:00.000+01:00

Read it all here. Cocksworth (1991) and Douglas (2006) argue that Anglican eucharistic theology is characterized by multiformity, that is, a multiplicity of views with many voices actually competing against each other. Some of these voices come from various church parties within Anglicanism, including Anglican Catholics (c.f. Macquarrie. 1997) and Anglican Evangelicals (c.f.

The Rt. Rev'd Dr. N.T. Wright: The Word of the Cross

2007-04-17T08:15:00.000+01:00

Preached on Maundy Thursday as the Durham clergy gathered to renew their ordination vows.May God give us the grace to live, preach and be what the cross calls us to be!Face it: to deny God’s wrath is, at bottom, to deny God’s love. When God sees humans being enslaved – and do please go and see the film Amazing Grace as soon as you get the chance – if God doesn’t hate it, he is not a loving God. (

Evangelical Catholicism: The Heart of the Gospel

2007-04-10T08:47:00.000+01:00

Well, I am breaking my vow of silence today before I leave to go camping in the York National Park this morning for the next few days. I break this silence due to the nature of the post I am attaching here. As a committed Anglo-Catholic in the Church of England who is soon to be ordained, I am convinced that we need to capture the evangelical heart of true Catholicism that is so wonderfully

Easter: The Never-Ending Surprise! Bishop Tom Wright

2007-04-07T16:16:00.000+01:00

When Easter stops being a surprise, it stops being Easter. The trick Christians pull off year after year is to so immerse ourselves in Lent and Holy Week that we actually screen out what we know comes next.We reflect on, and mourn, the ruin of the world and the folly of humankind. We look in the mirror and see our own shame and sin. And then we contemplate Jesus's suffering and death at the heart

Andrewes: Confession of Sin

2007-03-24T12:27:00.000Z

ConfessionLord,as we add day to day, so sin to sin. The just falleth seven times a day; and I, an exceeding sinner, seventy times seven; a wonderful, a horrible thing, 0 Lord. But I turn with groans from my evil ways, and I return into my heart, and with all my heart I turn to Thee,0 God of penitents and Saviour of sinners; and evening by evening I will return in the

Blogging Going Silent for a Time

2007-02-26T16:20:00.000Z

Dear Readers,My life has recently gotten very hectic and very very busy!!!! I have so much to do and new things being added regularly that I am going to have to take a leave from blogging and reading other material until 1 May, 2007. For a number of reasons concerning my preparation for the priesthood in the Church of England, my PhD on Lancelot Andrewes' Eucharistic Theology, my family time, and

The Catholic Church at its Best!

2007-02-24T16:34:00.000Z

I recently added Fr. Jay Scott Newman (Random Thoughts) to my Catholic Blog links as well as his personal web page. These pages only go to show what a faithful witness and worship can be like in a Catholic setting. His site shows him to be a Catholic priest with an evangelical appetite for reaching out to his community and building Christian community in his parish. What a blessing and an

Fr. Dwight Longenecker is Wrong on Corporeal Presence

2007-02-24T11:36:00.000Z

In an article I read on EWTN, Fr. Longenecker writes, Likewise, the Church has always insisted—despite the difficulties—that the presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament is not simply spiritual and subjective. It is objective and corporeal. In some way it is physical. At the Fourth Lateran Council the Church explained this belief with the phrase "transubstantiation." As the Oxford Dominican,

Irenaeus: The Friendship of God

2007-02-24T08:28:00.000Z

Our Lord, the Word of God, first drew men to God as servants, but later he freed those made subject to him, He himself testified to this: I do not call us servants any longer, for a servant does not know what his master is doing. Instead I call you friends, since I have made known to you everything that I have learned from my Father. Friendship with God brings the gift of immortality to those

A New Communion: Is it Wanted?

2007-02-23T10:53:00.000Z

Of course it is wanted if anyone cares about the real catholicity of the Church. If there is ever going to be any further discussions with our ecumenical partners with Catholic ecclesiology then it must be wanted and it is desperately needed. The global Anglican Communion cannot go on with every province doing 'what is right in its own eyes' regardless of the 'standards' of the Communion as a

St. Clement (Letter to the Corinthians): Repentance

2007-02-23T09:55:00.000Z

Let us fix our attention on the blood of Christ and recognize how precious it is to God his Father, since it was shed for our salvation and brought the grace of repentance to all the world. If we review the various ages of history, we will see that in every generation the Lord has offered the opportunity of repentance to any who were willing to turn to him. When Noah preached God's message of

What Happened in Tanzania?

2007-02-22T19:30:00.000Z

First Things: Jordan Hylden is a junior fellow at First Things.“We came very close to separation,” said Archbishop Gregory Venables of this weekend’s meeting of global Anglican leaders, “but Biblical doctrine and behavior have been affirmed as the norms in the Anglican Church.” It could have gone the other way, and for a time it looked as if it would. But, in the end, Anglican conservatives

Ash Wednesday: Thoughts from Leo the Great

2007-02-21T09:35:00.000Z

Relying, therefore, dearly-beloved, on so great a promise, be heavenly not only in hope, but also in conduct. And though our minds must at all times be set on holiness of mind and body, yet now during these 40 days of fasting bestir yourselves to yet more active works of piety, not only in the distribution of alms, which are very effectual in attesting

Interview with Archbishop Orombi

2007-02-20T12:11:00.001Z

Listen to it here.

Primates Communique

2007-02-20T09:19:00.000Z

The Primates have issued their communique and it is stronger than I had expected due to the news trickling out of Tanzania. It only goes to show that we wait and let those who make the decisions speak before too much speculation. "Assume" does a number of things and one is not very glamourous!There is a lot to hope for in the communique but as one phrase said in it, there will have to be good

Growing Together: Catholics and Anglicans

2007-02-19T13:49:00.000Z

My current research includes two chapters on Eucharistic sacrifice. One is Andrewes' theology and understanding of Eucharistic sacrifice and the other is seeing Andrewes as a catalyst for ecumenism today. Earlier today, the commission on ministry together between Anglicans and Catholics made public a 40-plus page document on unity. What this statement says and what I have discovered in Andrewes

The Anglican Communion?

2007-02-19T09:36:00.000Z

I am sure you are praying this morning for the Primates' meeting as am I. To be honest, I have a very heavy heart due to what has been reported throughout the week. Rhea and I are very saddened by the news where it appears we are on the brink of a serious division. We have offered the Lord so much of our lives to serve him in the Anglican Communion and it will break my heart if it divides. My

Archbishop Orombi's Primate Sermon on 16 Feb.

2007-02-17T15:44:00.000Z

Source: Anglican MainstreamThe Church of Uganda The Church of Uganda was born in 1877 through CMS missionaries who were invited by the King of Buganda. In 1885 Bishop James Hannington was murdered as he came to Uganda through the eastern part of the country. He was believed to be an enemy because he was approaching Uganda from the east. On June 3rd 1886, the Martyrs of Uganda were killed because

Catholics set to pass Anglicans as leading Church in UK

2007-02-15T09:15:00.000Z

Roman Catholicism is set to become the dominant religion in Britain for the first time since the Reformation because of massive migration from Catholic countries across the world.Catholic parishes will swell by hundreds of thousands over the next few years after managing years of decline, according to a new report, as both legal and illegal migrants enter the country. It says that the influx of

Commenting Problem

2007-02-14T19:50:00.000Z

It has been reported to me that some are having trouble commenting on this blog. If you are having problems, would you please send me an e-mail telling me what is happening? I would really appreciate it. Click on the e-mail tab on the right to send me an email.

Why Should I Even Respond?

2007-02-13T09:08:00.000Z

Over at Reformed Catholicism, Mr. Escalante, in his characteristic way of poking people with his barbs lacks any ability of true dialogue. He knows better than us all so why even bother with people like this? Every scholar I have read on Andrewes (Anglican, Roman Catholic Jesuit, Eastern Orthodox) disagrees with him on how he has framed the arguments in addition to his continual refusal to see

Parasitic Catholicism? Anglo-Catholics and Private Judgment

2007-02-12T23:43:00.000Z

Fr. Al Kimel has written an article where he states at one point that the Anglo-Catholic is merely submitting him or herself to "private" judgment. Here is what Fr. Kimel says:Yet as difficult as it may be for this good priest to hear, I must continue to maintain that the catholic Anglican is in an untenable and incoherent position. He confesses the faith of the Church catholic, yet the church in

Primates Meeting in Tanzania: In Hope Against Hope

2007-02-11T19:45:00.000Z

Well, the news hype continues to grow with regards to the Primates Meeting in Tanzania this week. Undoubtedly, the decisions made there will cause pain and probably more division. I am not sure what God is doing in his Church today, but I know the level of division runs very deep. As a member of the Church of England and a future priest within the C of E, all of this is quite painful on the

Prayer in a Workaday World

2007-02-11T17:16:00.000Z

Arthur Middleton: Go here to buy it!!!! Real prayer consists of three essential constituents - oral or bodily prayer, prayer of the mind and prayer of the heart or 'of the mind in the heart', and if one or the other constituent is absent it is not prayer at all. This book is not just about theory it is also about the practicalities of prayer. The author's concern is to help people discover their

Richard Montagu (1577-1641) Real Presence

2007-02-09T14:40:00.000Z

One of the things I think about a lot is the sad division over the Sacrament of Unity. Zwingli's and Oecelampadius' 'real absence' must be rejected as heterodox teaching. But, does one have to use the language of 'transubstantiation' or 'consubstantiation' (the latter is debatable for Luther's position) in order to embrace 'real presence' in the Eucharist where the recpient receives really and

A Few New Books

2007-02-09T14:15:00.000Z

I just received a few books in the post thanks to a couple of charities for those preparing for the priesthood in the Church of England. I was happily given a nice gift towards books and I look forward to the 25 or so that are on the way! Here is what just came:1) Joseph Martos, Doors to the Sacred: A Historical Introduction to Sacraments in the Catholic Church (Revised and Updated)2) Robert

An Interesting site

2007-02-09T12:27:00.000Z

Take a look at Anglicana Ecclesia! I have added it to my 'links'. biretta tip: Fr. Al Kimel

The Beauty of Snow in the Morning

2007-02-08T09:44:00.000Z

It was a beautiful walk into Morning Prayer at 7.30 this morning as the snow fell (quite cold too) as I walked in the quiet of the morning. It is so amazing how quiet everything goes when snow is on the ground. The only thing one hears is the snow falling through the trees. That was what it was like this morning as I walked along the River Wear into college for Morning Prayer and breakfast. As I

Bishop Tom Wright on the Primates' Meeting: Brilliant!!!

2007-02-06T18:00:00.000Z

Read it all! He is absolutely right here: the American church did it to themselves. It is on their own heads if they find themselves out of the Communion because they were warned and did it anyway. If they want to be prophets, then they have to follow the rules of prophecy: you may be found wrong and with that comes consequences!Tom Wright said: "For the last three years, every meeting has looked

History Closes with a Marriage between a Husband and a Bride

2007-02-06T16:19:00.000Z

The family is the basic unit or 'cell' of society, and the Christian family is also a major building block of the Orthodox Church. The Church places greet importance on the family to fulfil its role as a small church, as expressed by the Apostle Paul. When St. Paul greeted Priscilla and Aquila, his "fellow workers in Christ Jesus" he also greeted "the church that is in their house" (Romans 16:3,

Sacramental Presence; Not Local--Thomas Aquinas

2007-02-03T08:18:00.000Z

For Sacramental conversion, i.e., consecration, Aquinas understood sacramental change as the substance of Christ's body only, not with its dimensions. This is well-known! So, if that is so well-known, then why do we have so many reformers arguing against a local presence when local presence would require accidents, which is what takes up space? Aquinas denies such presence when Christ is present

39 Articles: A Confession for Anglicans?

2007-02-02T09:03:00.000Z

William Tighe writes the following over at Pontifications: Read it all and see what do you think?Historically, Anglican Erastianism took the form of, in England, the authority over the church of the Crown-in-Parliament and, more recently, by the Church of Englands slavish obsequiousness to bien-pensant public opinion, and, in America, the social Erastianism of deference to elite secular

Anglicans and Orthodox: Reunion Not Beyond Hope?

2007-02-02T06:42:00.000Z

In the Church Times today, there is a report from the ecumenical Metropolitan to the Archbishop of Canterbury that took 16 years to create. The report speaks of the 'innovations' of women's ordination as 'hindrances' to this visible union along with the 'internal' debates on sexuality. The ABC spoke favourably of the report's work as it 'had returned to the “wellsprings” of faith, to take a long

King Charles I the Martyr

2007-01-31T09:15:00.000Z

The Society of King Charles I, the Martyr. Due to my being so busy yesterday, I forgot to post the memory of King Charles I, the Martyr. So, here it is! O Lord we offer unto thee all praise and thanks for the glory of Thy grace that shined forth in Thine anointed servant Charles; and we beseech Thee to give us all grace. by a careful studious imitation of this Thy blessed Saint and Martyr, that

What Arrogance!

2007-01-30T07:02:00.000Z

Bishop Tom Wright is 'right' that the government is acting a bit arrogantly with its new gospel of 'diversity' that isn't all that diverse when it comes down to it. One shoe fits all and that's that! There are NO EXCEPTIONS for people who hold a Christian moral ethic and one can only expect worse in the end. The scary thing is that all of this is happening so fast and we seem to just be running

Elementary Common Sense

2007-01-29T20:54:00.000Z

G.K. Chesterton is the master of common sense. I find him so refreshing to read. He makes me laugh, cry, think, reform my view, and love the Tradition of the Church. He has a gift for making Christianity come alive. The Church does need reforming at times but sadly we muck it up a lot when we attempt it because we do not realise why some certain thing was put in place in the first instance. The

Only a Father

2007-01-27T18:15:00.001Z

The video says it all!Strongest Dad in the World [From Sports Illustrated, By Rick Reilly] Eighty-five times he's pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles in marathons. Eight times he's not only pushed him 26.2 miles in a wheelchair but also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while swimming and pedaled him 112 miles in a seat on the handlebars--all in the same day.

Burns Night Celebration

2007-01-27T17:15:00.000Z

Tonight we will be going to some friends house for a Burns Night celebration and supper. And yes, we will be eating some Haggis! You must click the Burns Night to see what it is all about if you do not know. Click on Haggis to see what that is all about! I have been asked to say the Selkirk Grace. Some hae meat and cannot eat. Some cannot eat that want it: But we hae meat and we

Church and State: What Should Happen?

2007-01-26T15:04:00.000Z

Interview with ABC ++Rowan Williams: RP: What’s at stake here in this relationship between church and State at this particular moment?ABC: I think what’s at stake ultimately is whether the church is answerable finally to the State as the only court of appeal or whether the church can rightly appeal to other sources for its moral compass and whatever one’s views on this particular issue, I think