Mid-Lent Sunday brings with it an element of refreshment as we pause in our Lenten journey before intensifying our pilgrimage with Christ into Holy Week and the celebration of the Paschal Mystery. St Clement of Rome (1st century AD) writes: “Let us fix our eyes on Christ’s blood and understand how precious it is to his Father, for, poured out for our salvation, it has brought to the whole world the grace of repentance”. As the Saviour dies on the cross, the Church sees in the water and the blood that flows from his broken heart the effective source of sacramental life: water symbolising the cleansing achieved through Baptism: blood pointing to the sustenance we draw from the Eucharist.
The Christian understanding of what happened on Calvary can be summed up in the word “atonement” – the belief that through his own self-sacrifice, through literally putting his own body in the chasm which had opened up between the Creator and what his children had become, a bridge has been opened up. Christ enables us to live “at one” with the Father: “by his wounds you have been healed” (I Peter 2:24).
The problem for all of us is that although the human condition has been put back on course, each of us is still prone to sin – that these are the end days of evil does not make its ability to damage any less devastating. Lent is a time of conversion: the season of the year when we take a long, hard look at ourselves in the light of the Gospel. It is our belief that Jesus has given us the means of conversion, a way to allow his healing touch to become as effective in our lives today as ever it was in the crowds who flocked around him 2,000 years ago. St Leo the Great (5th century) says: “What was visible in our Saviour has passed over into his mysteries”.
In the Sacrament of Penance we have the promise that whenever we recognise failure in ourselves, are genuinely sorry for it, and intend to try to do better in the future, we can have the assurance of God’s forgiveness. The words of absolution spoken by a priest lift the burden of past sin, restore the Christian to the life of grace and enable fresh graces to work in our lives. So much on offer, but relatively few avail themselves of this gentle sacramental act of Christ’s compassion. The Church expects all those who are conscious of serious sin to make their confession before receiving Holy Communion during the Easter period – this is the minimum requirement for Catholic practise. But the bare minimum should not be enough for anyone who really wants to grow into Christ. Let us use these remaining Lenten days to prepare for a good Easter confession.
The fourth of the Lenten talks will be given this Wednesday (17th March) at 7pm. This week we have the opportunity to hear about the life and work of the Little Sisters of the Poor whose special charism is the care of the elderly. Founded by St Jeanne Jugan (who was canonised last year) the Little Sisters have two houses in London at Vauxhall and Stoke Newington. The speaker will be the Superior of the Manchester home, Little Sister Caroline: she is making a long journey to be with us for the evening, so please do all you can to come along to hear her. St James is very special to the Community as their first English vocation, Caroline Sheppard (1823-1884) loved to pray in our church.
NOTICES
There are two feast days this week: St Patrick on Wednesday (17th) and St Joseph on Friday (19th). Friday’s Masses will be celebrated at St Joseph’s Altar
We offer our prayers and condolences to the families of two of the congregation who have died. Patricia Gibson had been frail for a long time and died in her own home on Friday 5th, aged 90. Her body will be brought into church on Wednesday at 5pm and her Funeral Mass will be offered at 12.30pm this Thursday. Margaret Hudson died in hospital on Tuesday (9th) aged 92, and her Funeral Service will also take place here on Thursday at 4pm. RIP
There will be a Requiem offered in the Lady Chapel (in the Extraordinary Form) at 6.30pm on Tuesday for the repose of David Helm: our prayers are with his widow, Linda.
There is much concern among people of all faiths (and none) at the Children, Schools and Families Bill which is due for consideration by the House of Lords. The non-denominational Family Education Trust is asking individuals to support a letter to be published in the press expressing reservations. If you would like to be associated with their letter you will find copies for signature on the table at the back of the church – they need to be posted to the Trust to arrive by this Thursday (18th)
The Stations of the Cross
will be made after the 6pm Mass on the Fridays of Lent.
One of the boxes at the back of the church (near the door) has been designated Lenten alms – this year the savings we make will be divided between the St John Southworth Fund (to help the needy in London) and the Thai Children’s Trust.
There is a group to studying Gregorian chant which meets in the Lady Chapel each Sunday 5.45pm-6.45pm. Anyone interested in learning the Chant is welcome. 30 people were present at the first meeting so this is clearly an idea which is hitting the right note!
Holy Year in Santiago de Compostella. A number of people have shown interest in the possibility of making the pilgrimage this year. Plans have been firmed up and the suggestion is that beginning on 2nd October we make an eight-day (or it could be shortened to six days to save on costs) visit to St James in Spain by way of our Lady’s Shrine at Fatima and a journey north through Portugal. Details of the projected itinerary are available from the Rectory. We need to make a definite decision about a pilgrimage by the end of March.
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