An Appeal for Circumspection

As we are all only too well aware, the situation in the Birmingham Oratory is far from happy, and has given rise to a great deal of comment and speculation in the press.

It would be most unhelpful were any Brother of the Little Oratory in London to be seen to be making public or semi-public statements on this matter.

We must refrain from any comment when asked by outsiders, other than to say that it is an internal matter for the Birmingham House, and must be careful not to discuss this situation amongst ourselves where there is the possibility of our being overheard. We must also refrain from entering the fray of comments in the blogosphere.

We should be praying - not indulging in conjecture and gossip.

Serving Lists

Our Ceremoniere does his utmost to allot the serving duties evenly amongst the serving Brothers. It can, I know, sometimes seem to each of us as if a great deal is being demanded of us, but serving at the Altar is one of the duties of the Brothers, and is also a tremendous privilege.

If any Brother is unable to fulfil his obligation as published on the list, it falls to him, in the first instance, to arrange cover.

It is not acceptable simply to cross one's name out on the Sacristy list, with or without the legend 'Away' or something similar - replacements do not materialize on their own.

It is equally unacceptable to announce to the Ceremoniere of a particular function, on the day of that function, that one will not be available to fulfil one's obligation later in the day - he himself may well have no time to arrange for cover - without having first taken all reasonable steps to secure a replacement.

Serving List for August 2010

Here is this month's serving list:

Sunday 1st August
9.00a.m. Old Rite Low Mass:
Richard McCarthy & Matthew Schellhorn
11.00a.m. High Mass:
James Cross; Oliver McCarthy; Neil Glanfield & Francis Carey
3.30p.m. Solemn Vespers & Benediction:
James Cross; Philip Benzinski; Jean Leger & James Godwin

Sunday 8th August
9.00a.m. Old Rite Low Mass:
Oliver McCarthy & James Godwin
11.00a.m. High Mass:
James Cooper & Parish boys
3.30p.m. Solemn Vespers & Benediction:
James Cross; Michael Tweedale; Oliver McCarthy & Jean Leger

Sunday 15th August
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
9.00a.m. Old Rite Low Mass:
Timothy Ashurst & Anthony Jeffery
11.00a.m. High Mass:
Richard McCarthy; James Cross; Bernard Diver & Philip Benzinski
3.30p.m. Solemn Vespers & Benediction:
Fr Rupert & James Cross; Oliver McCarthy; Richard McCarthy & Philip Benzinski

Sunday 22nd August
9.00a.m. Old Rite Low Mass:
Joel Coles & Timothy Ashurst
11.00a.m. High Mass:
Oliver McCarthy; Pat Roberts; Neil Glanfield & Richard McCarthy
3.30p.m. Solemn Vespers & Benediction:
Timothy Ashurst; James Godwin; Jean Leger & Oliver McCarthy

Sunday 29th August
9.00a.m. Old Rite Low Mass:
Oliver McCarthy & James Cross
11.00a.m. High Mass:
James Godwin; Richard McCarthy; Matthew Schellhorn & James Cross
3.30p.m. Solemn Vespers & Benediction:
James Cross; Oliver McCarthy; Jean Leger & Matthew Schellhorn

Litaniae Pretiosissimi Sanguinis D.N.I.C.

In this month of July, Brothers, who are all members of the Confraternity of the Most Precious Blood, are strongly encouraged to say daily the Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison.
Christe audi nos. Christe exaudi nos.
Peter de caelis, Deus, R. Miserere nobis.
Fili, Redemptor mundi, Deus, R.
Spiritus Sancte, Deus, R.
Sancta Trinitas, unus Deus, R.
Sanguis Christi, Unigeniti Patris Aeterni, R. Salva nos.
Sanguis Christi, Verbi Dei Incarnati, R.
Sanguis Christi, Novi et Aeterni Testamenti, R.
Sanguis Christi, in agone decurrens in terram, R.
Sanguis Christi, in flagellatione profluens, R.
Sanguis Christi, in coronatione spinarum emanans, R.
Sanguis Christi, in Cruce effusus, R.
Sanguis Christi, pretium nostrae salutis, R.
Sanguis Christi, sine quo non fit remissio, R.
Sanguis Christi, in Eucharistia potus et lavacrum animarum, R.
Sanguis Christi, flumen misericordiae, R.
Sanguis Christi, victor daemonum, R.
Sanguis Christi, fortitudo martyrum, R.
Sanguis Christi, virtus confessorum, R.
Sanguis Christi, germinans virgines, R.
Sanguis Christi, robur periclitantium, R.
Sanguis Christi, levamen laborantium, R.
Sanguis Christi, in fletu solacium, R.
Sanguis Christi, spes poenitentium, R.
Sanguis Christi, solamen morientium, R.
Sanguis Christi, pax et dulcedo cordium, R.
Sanguis Christi, pignus vitae aeternae, R.
Sanguis Christi, animas liberans de lacu Purgatorii, R.
Sanguis Christi, omni gloria et honore dignissimus, R.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, parce nobis Domine.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, exaudi nos Domine.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
V. Redemisti nos, Domine, in Sanguine tuo.
R. Et fecisti nos Deo nostro regnum.
Oremus.

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui unigenitum Filium tuum mundi Redemptorem constituisti, ac ejus sanguine placari voluisti: concede, quaesumus, salutis nostrae pretium ita venerari, atque a praesentis vitae malis ejus virtute defendi in terris, ut fructu perpetuo laetemur in caelis. Per eundem Cristum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Serving List for July 2010

Here is this month's serving list:
Sunday 4th July
9.00a.m. Old Rite Low Mass:
Matthew Schellhorn & Richard McCarthy
11.00a.m. High Mass:
Anthony Jeffery & St Philip's School Servers
3.30p.m. Solemn Vespers & Benediction:
James Cross; Oliver McCarthy; Philip Benzinski & James Godwin

Sunday 11th July
9.00a.m. Old Rite Low Mass:
Anthony Jeffery & Timothy Ashurst
11.00a.m. High Mass:
James Godwin; Richard McCarthy; Neil Glanfield & Bernard Diver
3.30p.m. Solemn Vespers & Benediction:
James Cross; Michael Tweedale; James Godwin & Matthew Schellhorn

Sunday 18th July
9.00a.m. Old Rite Low Mass:
Joel Coles & Oliver McCarthy
11.00a.m. High Mass:
Oliver McCarthy; James Cross; Jean Leger & Philip Benzinski
3.30p.m. Solemn Vespers & Benediction:
James Cross; James Godwin; Philip Benzinski & Jean Leger

Sunday 25th July
9.00a.m. Old Rite Low Mass:
Timothy Ashurst & Joel Coles
11.00a.m. High Mass:
James Godwin; Pat Roberts; Philip Benzinski & Richard McCarthy
3.30p.m. Solemn Vespers & Benediction:
James Cross; James Godwin; Oliver McCarthy & Joel Coles

Programme for Summer 2010

Thursday 1st July
Feast of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Mass (Old Rite) - 8.00a.m


Friday 2nd July
Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Mass (Old Rite) - 8.00a.m.


Friday 9th July
Feast of Ss. John Fisher & Thomas More

Mass (Old Rite) - 8.00a.m.


Sunday 25th July

Last formal exercises of the season - 4.30p.m.

During the month of August and the first three Sundays in September, a shorter form of the exercises will be held in the garden after Vespers, followed by tea


Friday 6th August
Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Mass at usual times


Sunday 15th August
Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Mass, Solemn Vespers and Benediction at usual Sunday times


Thursday 26th August
Feast of Blessed Dominic Barbieri

Mass at usual times

Benediction at the close of Holy Hour ca.7.15p.m.


Monday 30th August
Feast of Blessed Juvenal Ancina

Mass at usual times
Solemn Benediction - 6.30p.m.


The exercises will re-commence in the Little Oratory with the Congregation of Elections on Sunday 26th September ca. 4.30p.m.

In Festo Ss. Petri & Pauli, App.

Mid the ruined splendours of Rome's pagan sway,
Stands a mighty Empire. ne'er to pass away;
And that Empire's Ruler, blest by God above,
Rules his countless children with a father's love.
Thou art Peter! Strong, unshaken Rock;
Christ's own Vicar! Shepherd of His flock;
We thy loving children join in fervent prayer,
God preserve and bless thee, keep thee in His care!

Over distant mountains, over ocean's tide,
Spreads that mighty Empire, stretching far and wide;
On that sure Foundation, while the ages run,
Holy - Universal, Apostolic - One!
Thou art Peter! Strong unshaken Rock:
Christ's own Vicar! Shepherd of His flock;
We thy loving children join in fervent prayer,
God preserve and bless thee, keep thee in His care!

When by Satan's power, heresy is rife,
Comes a Voice unerring, clear amid the strife;
Hell at once is silent, storm and strife are o'er,
Rome the word hath spoken, doubt can be no more.
Thou art Peter! Strong unshaken Rock;
Christ's own Vicar! Shepherd of his flock;
We thy loving children join in fervent prayer,
God preserve and bless thee, keep thee in His care.

So the ship of Peter sails the troubled sea,
Safe in Peter's guidance, sure of victory;
Ark of our salvation, every nation's home,
Till the consummation of the world shall come.
Thou art Peter! Strong unshaken Rock;
Christ's own Vicar! Shepherd of His flock;
We thy loving children join in fervent prayer,
God preserve and bless thee, keep thee in His care.

This great hymn was written by Father Kerr.