“Vidi turbam magnam, quam dinumerare nemo poterat, ex omnibus gentibus, stantes ante thronum.”
“I saw a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, standing before the throne.”
(Vespers Antiphon for All Saints)
The saints gathered around the Lamb are a glimpse of heaven on earth.
Sunday 2 November Solemn Mass 11:00
All Saints
Le Roy Kyrie Taverner
Missa Euge bone Tye
Justorum animae Stanford
Beati mundo corde Byrd
Monday 3 November Solemn Mass 18:00
All Souls
Requiem a8 D Lobo
Versa est in luctum Lobo
Friday 7 November Solemn Mass 18:00
Solemn Requiem for Deceased
Fathers and Brothers of the Oratory
Officium Defunctorum a4 Anerio
Ego sum resurrectio Hassler
Sunday 9 November Solemn Mass 11:15
Solemn Requiem for the Fallen
Officium Defunctorum a6 Victoria
Versa est in luctum Victoria
Sunday 16 November Solemn Mass 11:00
31st Sunday of the Year
Missa Inter vestibulum Guerrero
De profundis Palestrina
Adoramus te Christe Monteverdi
Contrapunctus V BWV 1080 Bach
Saturday 22 November Solemn Mass 11:00
150th Anniversary of St Aloysius Church
Ecce sacerdos magnus Elgar
Messe Solennelle Vierne
Os justi Bruckner
Laudate Dominum Palestrina
Panis Angelicus Rebelo
Finale (Symphonie No 6) Vierne
Sunday 23 November Solemn Mass 11:00
Christ the King
Missa Brevis in D, K. 194 Mozart
Christus Vincit arr. Baker
Siderum rector Byrd
Prelude, Fugue and Chaccone in C Buxtehude
Sunday 30 November Solemn Mass 11:00
1st Sunday of Advent
Missa Octavi toni Lotti
Veni Domine Esquivel
Alma Redemptoris Mater a5 Victoria
It’s an interesting activity, when you have a few minutes, to take a look through the books in your home and ask yourself which ones you think people will still be reading in fifty, a hundred, or five hundred years’ time. Probably not many of them. That’s not to say that they should be forgotten, but simply that, in the end, most things are. Some ancient texts enjoyed great popularity, and now exist only in small fragments treasured by museums. Shakespeare was not the only playwright of his day, but who remembers his contemporaries? It is easy to imagine that in our digital age, everything will last forever, but even now, things go missing. Not everything survives. But St John Henry Newman probably will.
A century and a half after his death, he is read more widely than ever. That’s remarkable not only by the standards of spiritual writing, but by any standard. Of all the Christian writers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, perhaps only St Thérèse of Lisieux can rival him for lasting influence.
On Saturday, Our Cardinal will be declared a Doctor of the Church. This is a recognition of his contribution to unpacking the Church’s teaching. In fact, not only did he help to explain so many of the doctrines that had been handed down for 1800 years, but one of his greatest contributions was to explain how we can still find new things to unpack in our own day, without changing or adding to the deposit of faith Christ left to his disciples.
Newman’s less technical writings have no less influence. His sermons teach all of us about the Christian life. His meditations and devotions teach all of us about prayer. And he has something in particular to say to those just outside the Catholic Church, who are thinking about coming in. So many have read his works as part of their journey into the “One True Fold of the Redeemer”. His example of searching for the truth teaches others almost as much as his writings do.
But his message is not only for those who are not already Catholic. Conversion is not a single event but a lifelong process. As he famously wrote, “Here below, to live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often.” Every one of us is called to continual conversion, until we reach that perfection to which Christ calls us, “building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” (Eph. 4:13)
May St John Henry Newman continue to guide us on that journey — through his writings, through his example and by his intercession. St John Henry Newman, pray for us.
Oratory Young Adults meetings include a time of discussion, catechesis, conversation and prayer. Refreshments are available from the Cafe Neri bar from 7:30 and the main discussion begins at 8pm. Adults aged 18 to 35 are welcome to come along.
24 October — Come and see —
What does it mean to be a disciple?
The first in a new series of meetings for young adults at the Oratory. Jesus invites all of us to become closer to him and become his disciple. What about you? Have you answered his invitation? Come along and explore with us what it means to be a disciple.
14 November — Who do you say that I am? Answering the great question.
Perhaps the most important question we can answer. Who is Jesus, not in theory, not to other people, but to you? Answering this question changed the lives of his disciples. Come along to find out how your answer can change your life.
28 November (in place of December meeting) — Staying healthy
Sometimes the Christian faith gets reduced to a code for living a moral life. But Christ tells us that he came so that we may have life, and have it to the full. We’ll be thinking about how God saves us from far more than just sin, and how Christ helps us to live a life that is truly happy.
23 January — “God’s home is among mortals” — What is heaven like?
Heaven is where we are all aiming for, but what will it be like when we get there? Are we going to spend eternity on fluffy clouds with angels playing harps? Scripture presents a far more appealing picture. Come and learn how praying with the scriptures can give us a glimpse of heaven here on earth.
13 February — When the going gets tough, the tough get praying
How do we pray when everything seems to be going wrong? Those who turn to Christ for help in the Gospels give us an example of sincere prayer, even when God seems to ignore our cries for help. Come along to find out more.
6 March — Being really sorry
Confession can feel daunting, but it is really one of the most beautiful encounters we can have with God — a return to the Father who never stops waiting for us. Come and hear some practical advice on confession, and reflect on what it means to be truly sorry.
1 May (in place of April meeting) — Should we be afraid of evil?
We know that the Christian life involves fighting some evil forces, like sin and temptation. But there are also supernatural forces out there. Should we be scared of them? Are demons something for Christians to worry about or not, and what can we do to keep ourselves safe? Come along to find out more.
22 May — What does it mean to be good?
Every Christian is called to be good, but what does that mean? In this meeting we will be discussing just what it means to live the virtuous life and how only striving to do this will make our lives truly happy ones.
5 June — Christ has no body now on earth but yours
The work that Jesus began in the Gospels carries on today, and it’s our job to do it. But can we? Are we really able to carry on that work? Christ has set us a challenge — find out how to live up to it, and see some of the miracles we work ourselves on the way.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Closing Benediction of the Forty Hours last Sunday.
O Jesus Christ, remember,
When thou shalt come again,
Upon the clouds of heaven,
With all thy shining train:
When every eye shall see thee
In deity revealed,
Who now upon this altar
In silence are concealed.
Remember, then, O Saviour,
I supplicate of thee,
That here I bowed before thee,
Upon my bended knee;
That here I owned thy presence,
And did not thee deny;
And glorified thy greatness
Though hid from human eye.
Accept, divine Redeemer,
The homage of my praise;
Be thou the light and honour
And glory of my days.
Be thou my consolation
When death is drawing nigh;
Be thou my only treasure
Through all eternity.
Our Forty Hours’ Devotion has begun.
Join us any time tonight or tomorrow for exposition until midnight on Saturday.
7:00 Sung Lauds of the Blessed Sacrament
8:00 Mass — Extraordinary Form
10:00 Mass — Votive Mass for Peace
NB: The advertised Musical Oratory has been cancelled
Confessions will be heard as usual from 17:30–18:30
18:30 Mass — Vigil Mass of Sunday
21:00 Sung Compline
Masses are as usual on Sunday, with closing Choral Vespers, Procession & Benediction at 5pm
