tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56577123026420256412024-02-19T02:48:38.640+00:00St. MaryLittle Church Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121536785407803467noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657712302642025641.post-1609530304949572272020-03-21T22:29:00.000+00:002020-03-21T23:28:17.681+00:00IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Due to the resent outbreak of the CORONA VIRUS (COVID-19) in the UK, </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">there will be no Church Services in the LANCASTER DIOCESE. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This means that there will be no Masses or other services at Saint Mary’s until further notice.</span></span><br />
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Live-Streaming </h4>
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For those who may be interested, there will be a live Streaming of Mass from The church of Our Lady of Furness in Cumbria. Here is a link to their site.</h4>
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<a href="https://ourladyoffurness.org.uk/live-streaming/" target="_blank">https://ourladyoffurness.org.uk/live-streaming</a>/</div>
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Little Church Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121536785407803467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657712302642025641.post-19633012845220771542019-09-08T15:53:00.000+01:002019-09-14T20:38:11.118+01:00Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary<br />
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Today is the birthday of the Virgin Mary,</div>
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Mother of Jesus</div>
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and wife of Saint Joseph.</div>
Little Church Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121536785407803467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657712302642025641.post-21355191221407144452018-12-02T23:00:00.000+00:002019-05-05T16:18:35.339+01:00Year C: The Year of Saint Luke<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9imVFucEqrUtRxPfOjFINPQ_P0JnGKC6PHRFWjGp4ICAFhzs89ARELRzn4k79RsBMTdKmlXrxarYHK7aLjQnb4oubVuI58Ho_u1QvS6PvpPJdNI25E-ODcVXAPU1_Zf6yJzEfbocIcEID/s1600/StLukeicon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9imVFucEqrUtRxPfOjFINPQ_P0JnGKC6PHRFWjGp4ICAFhzs89ARELRzn4k79RsBMTdKmlXrxarYHK7aLjQnb4oubVuI58Ho_u1QvS6PvpPJdNI25E-ODcVXAPU1_Zf6yJzEfbocIcEID/s320/StLukeicon.jpg" /></a>THE whole emphasis in Luke's Gospel is to remind us that Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the World. Luke's version of the teaching of Jesus is of a Gospel destined for everyone no matter how poor, underprivileged or ill-equipped they might be. Jesus fulfils the words of the prophet Isaiah...<br />
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<i>The spirit of the Lord has been given to me,</i></div>
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<i>for he has anointed me.</i></div>
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<i>He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor,</i></div>
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<i>to proclaim liberty to captives</i></div>
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<i>and to the blind new sight, </i></div>
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<i>to set the downtrodden free,</i></div>
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<i>to proclaim the Lord's year of favour.</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Luke 4:18-19</span></div>
<br />
Luke is often given the title<span style="color: #ea9999;"> <span style="color: #e06666;">'Scribe of the Gentleness of Christ' </span></span>in so far as his portrait of Jesus is of an immensely compassionate and caring person. He balances this image, with an insight into the character of Jesus whose mission is urgent and whose time is short. He expresses this in the total demand which Jesus makes of those who follow him. Luke offers us a catechism of discipleship with all its privileges and hardships. These are two sides of the same coin - compassion and discipline.<br />
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After the infancy narrative, Luke's description of the Galilean ministry is basically the same as that of Matthew.and Mark. The whole of the central section describes the journey of Jesus to Jerusalem, to death and resurrection. In this 'Travel narrative' we find the episodes and parables, the controversies and miracles of which Luke tells us and nobody else. Luke's vision of the journey is neither geographical nor chronological; since his main intention is that the journey of Jesus Christ should be seen as a journey for the Church and for the individual Christian.<br />
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Luke's Gospel is very much suited to express the mood of the Second Vatican Council which saw us all as members of a 'Pilgrim Church'. The special emphasis of his theology is to befound above all in 'the journey' and 19 of the 33 passages used in Year C come from this section. We are reminded that the journey to Jerusalem is the way to glorification and suffering, but Jesus is not alone. His disciples accompany him on the journey, and are drawn by him into a community.<br />
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Stage Four of Luke's Gospel is an instruction on the positive qualities required of the followers of Jesus Christ - dedication, charity, the spirit of prayer together with vigilance and humility. Stage Five, which is the 'Gospe1 within the Gospel' gives us the three parables of God's fatherhood and mercy which is the Gospel of reconciliation. Stage Six continues the theme of discipleship and lays emphasis on the temptations, difficulties and obstacles confronting the followers of Jesus.<br />
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Luke's character comes out, clearly in his writings when we remember that he wrote the Acts of the Apostles as well as his Gospel. He came from a background and environment very different from the Judaism out of which Christianity grew. This more than anything else makes his Gospel more accessible and relevant to us. Luke's thinking is very close to our own.<br />
<br />
<b>STAGE ONE:</b><br />
THE FIGURE OF JESUS THE MESSIAH<br />
<div style="color: red; text-align: left;">
<b>SUNDAYS 1-2</b></div>
<i>1. The baptism of Jesus - Luke 3:15-16:21-22</i><br />
<i>2. The marriage feast at Cana - John 2:1-12</i><br />
<br />
<b>STAGE TWO</b>:<br />
LUKE'S PROGRAMME FOR JESUS' MINISTRY<br />
<b> <span style="color: red;">SUNDAYS 3-4</span></b><br />
<i>3. The visit to Nazareth (1) Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21</i><br />
<i>4. The visit to Nazareth (2) Luke 4:21-30</i><br />
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<b>STAGE THREE:</b><br />
<b>THE GALlLEAN MINISTRY</b><br />
<b style="color: red;">SUNDAYS 5-12</b><br />
<i>5. The call of the first Apostles* - Luke5:1-11</i><br />
<i>6. The sermon on the plain (1) Luke 6: 17,20-26 </i><br />
<i>7. The sermon on the plain (2) Luke 6:27-38</i><br />
<i>8. The sermon on the plain (3) Luke6:29-45</i><br />
<i>9. The cure of the centurion's servant - Luke 7:1-10</i><br />
<i>10. The Widow of Naim*- Luke 7:11-17</i><br />
<i>11. Jesus' feet anointed by the sinful woman* - Luke7:36-8:3</i><br />
<i>12. Peter's confession of faith - Luke9:18-24</i><br />
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<b>STAGE FOUR:</b><br />
THE FIRST PART OF THE 'TRAVEL NARRATIVE:<br />
THE QUALITIES JESUS DEMANDS OF THOSE WHO FOLLOW HIM<br />
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<b>SUNDAYS 13-23</b></div>
<i>13. The journey to Jerusalem begins * Luke 9:51-62</i><br />
<i>14. The mission of the seventy-two * 10: 1-12,17-20</i><br />
<i>15. The good Samaritan * 10:25-37</i><br />
<i>16. Martha and Mary * 10:28-42</i><br />
<i>17. The importunate friend * 11: 1-13</i><br />
<i>18. The parable of the rich fool * 12:13-21</i><br />
<i>19. The need for vigilance 12:32-48</i><br />
<i>20. Not peace but division 12:49-53</i><br />
<i>21. Few will be saved 13:22-30</i><br />
<i>22. True humility 14: 1,7-14</i><br />
<i>23. The cost of discipleship 14:25-33</i><br />
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<b>STAGE FIVE:</b><br />
THE 'GOSPEL WITHIN THE GOSPEL: THE MESSAGE OF PARDON AND RECONCILIATION -THE PARABLES OF GOD'S MERCY<br />
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<b>SUNDAY 24</b></div>
<i>24. The lost coin, the lost sheep, and the prodigal son * - Luke 15: 1-32</i><br />
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<b>STAGE SIX:</b><br />
THE SECOND PART OF THE 'TRAVEL NARRATIVE': THE OBSTACLES FACING THOSE WHO FOLLOW JESUS<br />
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<b>SUNDAYS 25-31</b></div>
<i>25. The unjust steward * - Luke 16:1-13</i><br />
<i>26. The rich man and Lazarus * - Luke 16:19-31</i><br />
<i>27. A lesson on faith and dedication * - Luke 17:5-10</i><br />
<i>28. The ten lepers * - Luke 17:11-19</i><br />
<i>29. The unjust judge * - Luke 18: 1-8</i><br />
<i>30. The Pharisee and the tax collector * - Luke 18:9-14</i><br />
<i>31. Zacchaeus * - Luke 19:1-10</i><br />
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<b>STAGE SEVEN:</b><br />
THE MINISTRY IN JERUSALEM<br />
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<b>SUNDAYS 32-33</b></div>
<i>32. Resurrection debated - Luke 20:27-38</i><br />
<i>33. The signs announcing the end - Luke 21:5-19</i><br />
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<b>STAGE EIGHT:</b><br />
CHRIST THE KING: RECONCILIATION<br />
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<b>SUNDAY 34</b></div>
<i>34. The repentant thief - Luke 23:35-43</i><br />
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<i><span style="color: red;">NOTE:</span> Passages marked <b>* </b>are found only in the Gospel of Saint Luke.<br />
</i>Little Church Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121536785407803467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657712302642025641.post-68529526046153335752018-04-22T00:20:00.001+01:002018-04-22T00:20:48.811+01:00FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER - YEAR B<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd</span></h3>
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Christ the Good Shepherd lays down his</div>
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life for us. This gives us some idea how</div>
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lavish God's love is when He allows us to be</div>
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called His children. We do so only in the name</div>
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of the Lord Jesus and we can be sure</div>
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that through Him we shall see GOD as He</div>
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is really in Himself.</div>
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<br />Little Church Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121536785407803467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657712302642025641.post-44524792001378116652018-01-20T01:47:00.000+00:002018-01-16T02:02:45.449+00:00Vigil Mass - Sunday 21st January, 2018<table class="Green"><tbody>
<tr><td class="part">Reading 1</td>
<td class="scripture">Jon 3:1-5, 10 </td>
<td class="clue">The people of Nineveh renounce their evil behaviour.</td>
</tr>
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<td class="part">Psalm</td>
<td class="scripture">Ps 24:4-9 r. 4</td>
<td class="clue">Lord, make me know your ways.</td>
</tr>
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<td class="part">Reading 2</td>
<td class="scripture">1 Cor 7:29-31</td>
<td class="clue">The world as we know it is passing away.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="part">Gospel Acclamation</td>
<td class="scripture">Mark 1:15</td>
<td class="clue">The kingdom of God is close at hand; believe the Good News.</td>
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<td class="part">Gospel</td>
<td class="scripture">Mark 1:14-20</td>
<td class="clue">Repent and believe the Good News.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Little Church Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121536785407803467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657712302642025641.post-60049959398121792452018-01-16T01:30:00.000+00:002018-01-16T01:36:20.174+00:00Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ<br />
The new series of readings from Scripture which we have
every Sunday at Mass has rightly been called the catechism of the
Church. The Second Vatican Council stressed the centrality of scripture
as the perpetual source of our spiritual life. Saint Jerome reminds us
that:<br />
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<blockquote style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"> '...ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ...'</span></blockquote>
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The
composers of the new lectionary (readings) opt for a three-year cycle
with each year being characterized by one of the synoptic Gospels:<br />
<blockquote style="font-weight: bold;">
<span style="color: #990000;">Year A:</span> the year of Matthew<br />
<span style="color: #990000;">Year B:</span> the year of Mark<br />
<span style="color: #990000;">Year C:</span> the year of Luke</blockquote>
Each of these Gospels is read in<span style="font-style: italic;"> semi-continuous </span>form
throughout the liturgical year on the Sundays in Ordinary Time. Each
evangelist gives us his own special insights into the life of Christ.
John's Gospel deals with the seasons of Lent and Easter. While the
Gospels of Matthew and Luke are used for the season of Advent. We have,
therefore, in the liturgy over the three year cycle a comprehensive
presentation of Christian Doctrine.Little Church Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121536785407803467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657712302642025641.post-61491262816917680102018-01-01T16:53:00.000+00:002018-01-16T02:15:35.489+00:00Year B: The Year of Saint MarkTHE Gospel of Mark confronts us with the person of Jesus Christ. Theologians rely heavily on his writing as their source for their tract on Christology, the study of Christ. Mark faces us with the mystery of Christ and asks us for a response. Each reader must pose this question to himself or herself: "Who is this person?" He or she will respond that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and also the Son of Man. It is round the two natures the unique person of our Saviour that Mark's Gospel revolves.<br />
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Mark was not only Peter's companion, he was also his interpreter or catechist. Mark keeps close to Peter who remains the original, if not the only, source of his story. It is this fact which explains why we are given so many episodes in Mark which can only be described as 'eye-witness accounts' or 'narratives based on personal testimony'. Mark begins by introducing his main interest - the person of Jesus himself - and he follows Jesus through his public ministry in Galilee, outside of Galilee and in Jerusalem immediately before his passion. The 'confession of Peter' is the crisis or turning point of his Gospel so that the rest of the Gospel moves from the theme of the 'Kingdom of God' to that of personal attachment to Jesus.<br />
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After the 'confession' there follows the 'first prophecy of the passion' and the whole emphasis of Jesus' teaching is that the Son of man must suffer. Jesus directs his teaching exclusively to his disciples so that Mark's Gospel becomes a catechism of the christian life even to the point of suffering and death. We have to take up our cross daily and follow him. Mark so stresses the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ that his Gospel has been described as a 'Passion Story with an introduction'. The main theological theme is, therefore, on the mystery of Christ while the secondary theological themes deal with faith, discipleship and mission.<br />
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Mark's Gospel is short and his way of telling a story is direct and simple. He leads his readers directly to the person of Jesus Christ and in doing so is not afraid to depict in all its starkness the humanity of Jesus. While he does not dwell on the Incarnation, he is at pains to show us that God is present and at work in the person and ministry of Jesus. Everything else that he has to say is directed towards our understanding of this basic notion.<br />
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There is a series of five Sundays (17-21) when the readings are taken from John 6 to complete and fill out the eucharistic doctrine of Mark. Mark tells us of the compassion of Jesus for the crowds (16) and this is followed by the feeding of the five thousand (17). The expression of the compassion of Jesus is found in the multiplicqtion of the loaves and fishes: at this stage the Gospel of J ohn takes over and presents us with the feeding of the five thousand as a sign of Jesus as the Bread of Life. We move then from faith in the person of Jesus to the plan which the eucharist has in the life of the disciples and of the community. The teaching of Jesus on the eucharist causes a split in the community and some walked no more with him. We see Peter's confession of faith as our own. Jesus asked 'who' do you say Iam?" Peter spoke up and said to him, "You are the Christ". The difference which it makes to Peter's life marks out the life that we are destined to live. Mark asks us to concentrate on Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man, so that we will follow him because we know he has the words of eternal life.<br />
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<b>STAGE ONE:<br />THE MYSTERY OF THE SON OF GOD</b><br />
<b>[SUNDAYS 1 - 24]</b><br />
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1. The baptism of Jesus<span style="font-size: 78%;"> [Mark 1:6b-11]</span><br />
2. The call of Andrew and friend <span style="font-size: 78%;">[John 1:35-42]</span><br />
3. The call of the first apostles<br />
4. A day in Capernaum (1)<br />
4. A day in Capernaum (2)<br />
6. The cure of a leper<br />
7. The cure of a paralytic<br />
8. The question of fasting<br />
9. Violation'of the sabbath<br />
10. Serious criticism of Jesue<br />
11. Parables of the kingdom<br />
12. The calming of the storm<br />
13. Jairus' daughter and the woman in the crowd<br />
14. Jesus rejected at Nazareth<br />
15. The mission of the Twelve<br />
16. Compassion for the crowds<br />
17. Feeding of five thousand<br />
18. The breao of life (1)<br />
19. The bread of life (2)<br />
20. The eucharist<br />
21. Incredulity and faith<br />
22. Jewish customs<br />
23. Cure of a deaf-mute<br />
24. Peter's confession<br />
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<b>STAGE TWO:</b><br />
<b>THE MYSTERY OF THE SON OF MAN</b><br />
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25. Passion and resurrection prophesied<br />
26. Instructions for disciples<br />
27. What God has joined together<br />
28. The problem of wealth<br />
29. The sons of Zebedee<br />
30. The cure of Bartimaeus<br />
31. The first commandment<br />
32. The scribes; the widow's mite<br />
33. The last things<br />
34. Solemnity of Christ the KingLittle Church Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121536785407803467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657712302642025641.post-25312125365524452702016-03-13T15:33:00.001+00:002019-09-12T20:48:01.362+01:00October Devotions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Little Church Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121536785407803467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657712302642025641.post-1640364240393921952015-07-04T15:20:00.000+01:002016-03-13T15:22:19.332+00:00Ordination of John-Paul Evans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Little Church Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121536785407803467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657712302642025641.post-37059803751256714952015-05-08T12:23:00.000+01:002015-05-11T00:59:40.500+01:00Prayer for England<div class="section" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #3552c0; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">
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Cardinal Wiseman's Prayer for England:</div>
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O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our most gentle<br />
Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon England, Thy<br />
Dowry, and upon all of us who greatly hope and trust in Thee.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
By Thee it was that Jesus, our Saviour and our hope was given<br />
unto the world; and He has given Thee to us that we might hope<br />
still more.</div>
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Plead for us Thy children whom Thou did receive and accept at<br />
the foot of the Cross O sorrowful Mother. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
Intercede for our separated brethren that in the one true fold we may<br />
all be united under the chief shepherd of Christ's flock, and that by<br />
faith and fruitful in good works we may all deserve to see and<br />
praise God together with Thee in our heavenly home.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
Amen. (Cardinal Wiseman 1802-1865 (Archbishop of Westminster)</div>
</div>
Little Church Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121536785407803467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657712302642025641.post-71338651049362037832015-05-08T12:17:00.000+01:002015-05-08T12:17:22.219+01:00May is the month of Our Lady<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6RMAaSk2zJwX9tK760oetq91AyAyqZ8FyI3IIUyl7Tq_3pfD13h1uwjaPHSQ89l9h7RsfuhsIKHfFd8cjQjcKU3bGkFNDh3RKcFGDMAMhckDYmacSljgwm94X82RGvYBhO4lgGJyqKTh-/s1600/grotto.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6RMAaSk2zJwX9tK760oetq91AyAyqZ8FyI3IIUyl7Tq_3pfD13h1uwjaPHSQ89l9h7RsfuhsIKHfFd8cjQjcKU3bGkFNDh3RKcFGDMAMhckDYmacSljgwm94X82RGvYBhO4lgGJyqKTh-/s1600/grotto.png" /></a></div>
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Oh Mary we crown thee</div>
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with blossoms today</div>
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Queen of the Angels</div>
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And Queen of the May</div>
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Little Church Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121536785407803467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657712302642025641.post-417274817618313812015-05-08T12:01:00.000+01:002015-05-08T12:01:42.630+01:00Contact Details<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-D-IFppw2cRUqvr25G4XLZI5kcXtPX9eGYGDTlZQehAkTjVAJAfy-he0322fHUNWmoeh84r0Mdvj8bH82ynoPD8fEhrtr98X3SF0pv2e80sJ7VccZiRKih0oAci5Hl4Nl0u2oGDWRR_hz/s1600-h/header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-D-IFppw2cRUqvr25G4XLZI5kcXtPX9eGYGDTlZQehAkTjVAJAfy-he0322fHUNWmoeh84r0Mdvj8bH82ynoPD8fEhrtr98X3SF0pv2e80sJ7VccZiRKih0oAci5Hl4Nl0u2oGDWRR_hz/s400/header.jpg" /></a></div>
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Priest in Charge<br />
St. Mary's Presbytery<br />
Hall Lane<br />
Great Eccleston<br />
Preston PR3 0XN<br />
<br />Little Church Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121536785407803467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657712302642025641.post-41032143568415798762015-05-08T11:48:00.000+01:002019-09-12T20:48:02.060+01:00Little Church Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121536785407803467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657712302642025641.post-67123313623984076202015-01-24T18:30:00.000+00:002015-01-20T01:36:59.207+00:00Third Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjT4LpBHbUOFaZ6aeNGnCqTapep-i2ZUh7GXx8bWbIlU1nA1aiE5s727cED79AQwKmewCHKz2vyCxaeHE_hydsCKGCK00QG-VOtHnt3QPYakGzxH9nOHKwML_GFVu7uTQOhlIf1wdu_UD/s1600/Light-of-the-World-Holman-Hunt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjT4LpBHbUOFaZ6aeNGnCqTapep-i2ZUh7GXx8bWbIlU1nA1aiE5s727cED79AQwKmewCHKz2vyCxaeHE_hydsCKGCK00QG-VOtHnt3QPYakGzxH9nOHKwML_GFVu7uTQOhlIf1wdu_UD/s320/Light-of-the-World-Holman-Hunt.jpg" height="320" width="160" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"...Christ is our light and our help!..."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Christ lightens our darkness and helps us to see the real meaning of life. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">When He calls us to follow Him we must learn to put aside our differences. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It is in true Christian charity that we are able to proclaim the good news of the kingdom,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">and it is for this purpose that Christ calls us to follow him.</span></div>
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<i><b><span style="color: #990000;"> </span></b></i></h3>
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Little Church Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121536785407803467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657712302642025641.post-31143422464784214142015-01-20T01:37:00.000+00:002019-09-12T20:48:01.649+01:00Feast of the Sacred HeartLittle Church Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121536785407803467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657712302642025641.post-63481947929912493592015-01-20T00:30:00.000+00:002015-01-20T01:39:30.510+00:00BEANNACHT - A Blessing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvtPpoIrY5TzF3C6fJL-n68bBf-8BOcgMZRNC4xa5PliiBSTHLtwb_KDvoo8zGlyNo1klDb8-glVef6GMUPAdHACZV9pvb3OVDkttXiUD8iOqFH-wjdBij6RXoQVNIhDI-asx413uE4wN/s1600-h/10-02-08_1701.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvtPpoIrY5TzF3C6fJL-n68bBf-8BOcgMZRNC4xa5PliiBSTHLtwb_KDvoo8zGlyNo1klDb8-glVef6GMUPAdHACZV9pvb3OVDkttXiUD8iOqFH-wjdBij6RXoQVNIhDI-asx413uE4wN/s320/10-02-08_1701.jpg" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165790006168696786" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px;" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On the day when</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The weight deadens</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On your shoulders</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And you stumble,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">May the clay dance</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To balance you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And when your eyes</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Freeze behind</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The grey window</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the ghost of loss</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gets into you,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">May a flock of colours</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Indigo, red, green</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And azure blue,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Come to awaken in you</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A meadow of delight.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When the canvas frays</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the currach of thought</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And a stain of ocean</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Blackens beneath you,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">May there come across the waters</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A path of yellow moonlight</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To bring you safely home.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">May the nourishment of the earth be yours,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">May the clarity of light be yours,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">May the fluency of the ocean be yours,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">May the protection of the ancestors be yours.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And so may a slow</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wind work these words</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Of love around you,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">An invisible cloak</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To mind your life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">— John O’Donohue</span></span></div>
Little Church Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121536785407803467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657712302642025641.post-29215963680468950672014-06-28T12:00:00.000+01:002014-06-29T22:00:59.264+01:00Deaconal Ordinations at Oscott <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkzOvbk7HmpeRKwOSMNTS7hXEdks5slRp7z_kSU-qrZLFoEqkSCo9zqHRUzcpQfncQtnMsEdRta_z8xMZP_cKhb1QWgdTQbySWdx4NxZr1H8g2lbjhmN7Kn5ioYpcTuqoJStNdOnLoFSJ/s1600/diaconate-ordination-jpevans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkzOvbk7HmpeRKwOSMNTS7hXEdks5slRp7z_kSU-qrZLFoEqkSCo9zqHRUzcpQfncQtnMsEdRta_z8xMZP_cKhb1QWgdTQbySWdx4NxZr1H8g2lbjhmN7Kn5ioYpcTuqoJStNdOnLoFSJ/s1600/diaconate-ordination-jpevans.jpg" /></a></div>
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Congratulations to the six seminarians who were ordained Deacons<br />
today at St.Mary's College, Oscott, Birmingham</div>
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Celebrations were in order at Saint Mary's Great Eccleston as one of their parishioners, John-Paul Evans was ordained Deacon today at St.Mary's College, Oscott. Although only a few people knew about it, the parish in general were not aware until this evening at the 6.30pm Mass, due to a mix up with dates in the parish bulletin.</div>
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I am sure St. Mary's parishioners will join their congratulations and good wishes, love and prayers with those already received from Bishop Michael Campbell, OSA on behalf of the Diocese, as well as priests and parishioners from St.Theresa's in Cleveleys and from Our Lady and St.Edward's in Preston, where John-Paul spent a few weeks placement in both parishes during 2013/14.<br />
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John-Paul will be on a summer placement during July and August this year at Our Lady and St. Edwards as Deacon, helping Fr. Bob Horn in the parish, as well as some work in the wider community. </div>
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Little Church Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121536785407803467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657712302642025641.post-66051162248315440702014-01-06T01:00:00.000+00:002014-03-14T17:07:18.404+00:00Thirsting for GOD<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZR8DeRP-2S82R7zLADiNo-iEbVnBAiWnOfJsWJrMn8iYXvTHndNMjry1fGtM0cIWvB5Ilc2QZusK4kbg01riuURye180m6unviGp4pbrlBxS5s81exXYu8le83Ih55CSSQmr3to6kCwk/s1600/main-altar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZR8DeRP-2S82R7zLADiNo-iEbVnBAiWnOfJsWJrMn8iYXvTHndNMjry1fGtM0cIWvB5Ilc2QZusK4kbg01riuURye180m6unviGp4pbrlBxS5s81exXYu8le83Ih55CSSQmr3to6kCwk/s1600/main-altar.jpg" /></a></div>
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“...The person who thirsts for God eagerly studies and meditates on the inspired Word, <br />
knowing that there, he is certain to find the One for whom he thirsts...”</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
[Commentary on the Song of Songs, Sermon 23:3.]</div>
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St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153 AD)</div>
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Doctor and Father of the Church.</div>
Little Church Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121536785407803467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657712302642025641.post-25615477142460784362014-01-06T00:00:00.000+00:002014-01-06T02:41:40.795+00:00Local History During Penal Times<b>A Short Account of the Catholic History of Great Eccleston and Surrounding Areas During Penal Times</b><br />
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At the English Reformation, King Henry VIII broke with the Pope and declared himself Head of the Church of England. Later Queen Elizabeth I forbade the Mass and 'massing' priests were treated as traitors. There were many people who would not accept the New Religion and clung to what they came to call 'the old Faith' centred around loyalty to the Pope and a great devotion to the Mass. They where willing to accept the loss of property, civil rights, and even life itself to have the Mass. Cardinal William Allan of Rossall (now part of Fleetwood) founded colleges in France, Italy, Spain and Portugal to provide priests who were smuggled into the country ministering to the faithful at the risk of their own lives.<br />
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One such priest was John Plessington, born at Dimples Hall in Garstang and executed at Chester in 1679. There were many 'recusants', as they became to be called, in Lancashire and many in our own area. It is confidently asserted that the Mass never ceased to be offered in our locality either in the village of Great Eccleston or in the houses of recusant families in the area; the Leckonby's of Eccleston House (now Leckonby House); Great Eccleston Hall (on Hall Lane) the home of the Stanley family; Cross House in Great Eccleston the seat of the White family for over four centuries; the Gillow's of Gillow House, Little Eccleston; the Blackburn's of Stockenbridge Hall in Tarnacre; the Butler's of Rawcliffe Hall to name but a few. The failure of the Stuart Rebellion 1745 made times very hard again for English Catholics. By this time Great Eccleston had its own resident priest, William Caton, and its own Roman Catholic Chapel, a thatched cottage on the Raikes. Caton was brought to Lancaster after the Stuart defeat and indicted and convicted of being a priest. He seemed to escape any penalty and continued his ministry till his death in 1749.<br />
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It was not until the Catholic Relief Act of 1791, that Catholics were allowed to build churches and schools. But there must have been a degree of tolerance in this locality as the first Catholic Church is recorded as being built in 1760, dedicated to Saint Laurence, and serving about 200 Catholics from around Great Eccleston and Saint Michael's. In 1829 a further Catholic Relief Act removed almost all civic disabilities from English Catholics. By this time Saint Laurence's was proving too small, and so the present Church of Saint Mary was built in 1835 and the old church became the parish school of Saint Mary. For a short time there had been a Catholic Boarding School in Great Eccleston, run by Peter Newby, a scholar and a poet (1775 -1778); for some reason he took it elsewhere. But now the parish had its own school, which continues to flourish to this day.<br />
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Miss Emma Phipps, whose mother was a Leckonby, came to Great Eccleston for a day to see where here mother came from; she liked it so much that she stayed the rest of here life. Miss Phipps in memory of the Leckonby Family provided the present altar at the church. She also commissioned the building of Leckonby Hall now a nursing home. The present parish of Saint Mary serves the Catholic community in Great Eccleston and surrounding villages of Little Eccleston; Elswick; Saint Michael's; Roseacre; Thistleton and Inskip together with other churches in the area with whom we have strong links, we hope we are able to help to serve the wider community.<br />
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by Monsignor Michael Kirkham<br />
[Parish Priest Saint Mary's Great Eccleston 1989 - 2002]Little Church Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121536785407803467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657712302642025641.post-58191617229499232662013-12-28T09:00:00.000+00:002013-12-29T17:50:06.669+00:00Feast of the Holy InnocentsThe children mentioned in St. Matthew 2:16-18:<br />
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Herod perceiving that he was deluded by the wise men, was exceeding angry; and sending killed all the men children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet, saying: A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. <br />
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The Greek Liturgy asserts that Herod killed 14,000 boys (ton hagion id chiliadon Nepion), the Syrians speak of 64,000, many medieval authors of 144,000, according to Apocalypse 14:3. Modern writers reduce the number considerably, since Bethlehem was a rather small town. Knabenbauer brings it down to fifteen or twenty (Evang. S. Matt., I, 104), Bisping to ten or twelve (Evang. S. Matt.), Kellner to about six (Christus and seine Apostel, Freiburg, 1908); cf. "Anzeiger kath. Geistlichk. Deutschl.", 15 Febr., 1909, p. 32. This cruel deed of Herod is not mentioned by the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, although he relates quite a number of atrocities committed by the king during the last years of his reign. The number of these children was so small that this crime appeared insignificant amongst the other misdeeds of Herod. Macrobius (Saturn., IV, xiv, de Augusto et jocis ejus) relates that when Augustus heard that amongst the boys of two years and under Herod's own son also had been massacred, he said: "It is better to be Herod's hog [ous], than his son [houios]," alluding to the Jewish law of not eating, and consequently not killing, swine. The Middle Ages gave faith to this story; Abelard inserted it in his hymn for the feast of Holy Innocents:<br />
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Ad mandatum regis datum generale<br />
nec ipsius infans tutus est a caede.<br />
Ad Augustum hoc delatum risum movit,<br />
et rex mitis de immiti digne lusit:<br />
malum, inquit, est Herodis esse natum.<br />
prodest magis talis regis esse porcum.<br />
<br />
(Dreves, "Petri Abaelardi Hymnarius Paracletensis", Paris, 1891, pp. 224, 274.) <br />
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But this "infant" mentioned by Macrobius, is Antipater, the adult son of Herod, who, by command of the dying king was decapitated for having conspired against the life of his father.<br />
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It is impossible to determine the day or the year of the death of the Holy Innocents, since the chronology of the birth of Christ and the subsequent Biblical events is most uncertain. All we know is that the infants were slaughtered within two years following the apparition of the star to the Wise Men (Belser, in the Tübingen "Quartalschrift", 1890, p. 361). The Church venerates these children as martyrs (flores martyrum); they are the first buds of the Church killed by the frost of persecution; they died not only for Christ, but in his stead (St. Aug., "Sermo 10us de sanctis"). In connection with them the Apostle recalls the words of the Prophet Jeremias (xxxi, 15) speaking of the lamentation of Rachel. At Rama is the tomb of Rachel, representative of the ancestresses of Israel. There the remnants of the nation were gathered to be led into captivity. As Rachel, after the fall of Jerusalem, from her tomb wept for the sons of Ephraim, so she now weeps again for the men children of Bethlehem. The ruin of her people, led away to Babylon, is only a type of the ruin which menaces her children now, when the Messias is to be murdered and is compelled to flee from the midst of His own nation to escape from the sword of the apparitor. The lamentation of Rachel after the fall of Jerusalem receives its eminent completion at the sight of the downfall of her people, ushered in by the slaughter of her children and the banishment of the Messias.<br />
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The Latin Church instituted the feast of the Holy Innocents at a date now unknown, not before the end of the fourth and not later than the end of the fifth century. It is, with the feasts of St. Stephen and St. John, first found in the Leonine Sacramentary, dating from about 485. To the Philocalian Calendar of 354 it is unknown. The Latins keep it on 28 December, the Greeks on 29 December, the Syrians and Chaldeans on 27 December. These dates have nothing to do with the chronological order of the event; the feast is kept within the octave of Christmas because the Holy Innocents gave their life for the newborn Saviour. Stephen the first martyr (martyr by will, love, and blood), John, the Disciple of Love (martyr by will and love), and these first flowers of the Church (martyrs by blood alone) accompany the Holy Child Jesus entering this world on Christmas day. Only the Church of Rome applies the word Innocentes to these children; in other Latin countries they are called simply Infantes and the feast had the title "Allisio infantium" (Brev. Goth.), "Natale infantum", or "Necatio infantum". The Armenians keep it on Monday after the Second Sunday after Pentecost (Armenian Menology, 11 May), because they believe the Holy Innocents were killed fifteen weeks after the birth of Christ.<br />
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In the Roman Breviary the feast was only a semi-double (in other breviaries a minor double) up to the time of Pius V, who, in his new Breviary (1568), raised it to a double of the second class with an octave (G. Schober, "Expl. rit. brev. rom.", 1891, p. 38). He also introduced the two hymns "Salvete flores martyrum" and "Audit tyrannus anxius", which are fragments of the Epiphany hymn of Prudentius. Before Pius V the Church of Rome sang the Christmas hymns on the feast of the Holy Innocents. The proper preface of the Gelasian Sacramentary for this feast is still found in the Ambrosian Missal. We possess a lengthy hymn in honour of the Holy Innocents from the pen of the Venerable Bede, "Hymnum canentes martyrum" (Dreves, "Analecta hymnica") and a sequence composed by Notker, "Laus tibi Christe", but most Churches at Mass used the "Clesa pueri concrepant melodia" (Kehrein, "Sequenzen", 1873, p. 348). At Bethlehem the feast is a Holy Day of obligation. The liturgical colour of the Roman Church is purple, not red, because these children were martyred at a time when they could not attain the beatific vision. But of compassion, as it were, towards the weeping mothers of Bethlehem, the Church omits at Mass both the Gloria and Alleluia; this custom, however, was unknown in the Churches of France and Germany. On the octave day, and also when the feast falls on a Sunday, the Roman Liturgy, prescribes the red colour, the Gloria, and the Alleluia. In England the feast was called "Childermas".<br />
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The Roman Station of 28 December is at St. Paul's Outside the Walls, because that church is believed to possess the bodies of several of the Holy Innocents. A portion of these relics was transferred by Sixtus V to Santa Maria Maggiore (feast on 5 May; it is a semi-double). The church of St. Justina at Padua, the cathedrals of Lisbon and Milan, and other churches also preserve bodies which they claim to be those of some of the Holy Innocents. Little Church Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121536785407803467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657712302642025641.post-87830928669828560982013-12-25T00:00:00.000+00:002013-12-29T17:33:45.322+00:00Christmas Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Lux fulgebit hodie super nos: quia natus est nobis Dominus: <br />et
vocabitur Admirabilis, Deus, Princeps pacis,<br />Pater futuri saeculi: cujus regni non erit finis.<br />-- Dominus
regnavit, decorem indutus est:<br />indutus est Dominus fortitudinem, et praecinxit se...</i></span></span></div>
Little Church Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121536785407803467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657712302642025641.post-59388271153822288052013-12-21T21:47:00.002+00:002019-09-12T20:48:02.882+01:00Photographshttp://www.flickr.com/photos/28360291Little Church Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121536785407803467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657712302642025641.post-62096893234651139212013-12-08T01:00:00.000+00:002013-12-23T02:31:48.308+00:00Advent - Year A<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <i> "God-is-with-us"!</i><span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></i></span></b></span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">God sent His only Son on earth to be born of<br />human stock. His name is Jesus and His<br /> mother's name is Mary. He is the Saviour of<br />all the world, and through Him we are called to<br />real holiness of life.</span></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Fourth Sunday of Advent - <a href="http://www.wednesdayword.org/downloads/parish_docs/299_Advent_4_A.pdf" target="_blank">Read more</a>... </span></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">Third Sunday of Advent - <a href="http://www.wednesdayword.org/downloads/parish_docs/298_Advent_3_A.pdf" target="_blank">Read more</a>... </span></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">Second Sunday of Advent Reflection - <a href="http://www.wednesdayword.org/downloads/parish_docs/297_Advent_2_A.pdf" target="_blank" title="Click Here">Read more...</a></span></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">First Sunday of Advent Reflection - <a href="http://www.wednesdayword.org/downloads/parish_docs/296_Advent_1_A.pdf" target="_blank" title="Click Here">Read more...</a></span></h4>
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Little Church Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121536785407803467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657712302642025641.post-37280442800318182882013-12-01T00:30:00.000+00:002013-12-01T15:11:58.168+00:00YEAR OF MATTHEW<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What distinguishes Matthew's account of the Gospel story from the others is his concentration on the words of Jesus. His portrait of Christ is basically that of the <span style="font-style: italic;">master, the teacher of the new law</span>. His technique is simple. He gathers the sayings of Jeses into five major discourses or 'sermons' and uses them as the skeleton round which he builds his Gospel. The five sermons are:<br />
<blockquote style="font-weight: bold;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;">The sermon on the mount </span><span style="color: #990000; font-size: 85%;">Chs. 5-7</span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br />The mission sermon </span><span style="color: #990000; font-size: 85%;">Ch. 10</span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br />The parable sermon </span><span style="color: #990000; font-size: 85%;">Ch. 13</span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br />The community sermon </span><span style="color: #990000; font-size: 85%;">Ch. 18</span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br />The final sermon </span><span style="color: #990000; font-size: 85%;">Chs. 23-25</span></blockquote>
The 'sermons' represent the core of the catechetical instruction of the liturgy in the first year of the cycle. Matthew's Gospel underlines his conviction that the Lord is with His Church, "always to the end of time". This is the theology which Matthew offers us. The abiding presence of the Lord has guided the evangelist in his choice of themes. Each theme gives us an insight into the nature of the Church and Christ's activity through it. The mystery of the Church is the centre of Matthew's theology - and this leads us to the theology of the Church and the theology of the sacraments.<br />
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The narrative parts of the Gospel are intertwined with the five discourses to give us a carefully worked-out catechetical instruction of the whole Gospel. From a very early stage Matthew's Gospel was recognised as 'the ecclesiastical Gospel'. He starts with a principle in theology, 'Christ the sacrament of the encounter with God' and develops it in line with the present experience of the Lord's abiding presence and activity in the Church, namely through the sacraments. The Gospel of Matthew, therefore, essentially deals with the mystery of the Church and the sacramental life.<br />
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With these principles before us we can begin to appreciate the riches of the Gospel which the Church puts before us. Our lives are intimately linked with the Church and we share the life of Our Lord through the life-giving power of the sacraments. We realise even more that the Church, through the Sunday readings the Gospel, has built its own programme of catechetical instruction into the framework of the liturgy when we all come together as a community to worship God.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">STAGE ONE:</span><br />THE FIGURE OF JESUS THE MESSIAH</b><br />
<b>[SUNDAYS 1 - 2]</b><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>1. The baptism of Jesus</i><br />
<i>2. The witness of John the Baptist</i><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b>STAGE TWO:</b></span><br />
<b>CHRIST'S DESIGN FOR LIFE IS GOD'S KINGDOM</b><br />
<b>[SUNDAYS 3 - 9]</b><span style="font-size: 78%;"> </span><br />
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<i>3. The call of the first apostles</i><br />
<i>4. Sermon on the mount (1)</i><br />
<i>5. Sermon on the mount (2)</i><br />
<i>6. Sermon on the mount (3)</i><br />
<i>7. Sermon on the mount (4)</i><br />
<i>8. Sermon on the mount (5)</i><br />
<i>9. Sermon on the mount (6)</i><br />
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">STAGE THREE:</span><br /> THE SPREAD OF GOD'S KINGDOM</b><br />
<b>[SUNDAYS 10 - 13]</b><br />
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<i>10. The call of Levi</i><br />
<i>11. The mission sermon (1)</i><br />
<i>12. The mission sermon (2)</i><br />
<i>13. The mission sermon (3)</i><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b>STAGE FOUR:</b></span><br />
<b>THE MYSTERY OF GOD'S KINGDOM</b><br />
<b>[SUNDAYS 14 - 17]</b><br />
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<i>14. The revelation of the simple</i><br />
<i>15. The parable sermon (1)</i><br />
<i>16. The parable sermon (2)</i><br />
<i>17. The parable sermon (3)</i><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b>STAGE FIVE:</b></span><br />
<b>GOD'S KINGDOM ON EARTH - CHRIST'S CHURCH</b><br />
<b>[SUNDAYS 18 - 24]</b> <br />
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<i>18. The feeding of the five thousand</i><br />
<i>19. Jesus walks on the water</i><br />
<i>20. The Canaanite woman</i><br />
<i>21. Peter's Confession: primacy conferred</i><br />
<i>22. The passion prophesied: discipleship</i><br />
<i>23. The community sermon (1)</i><br />
<i>24. The community sermon (2)</i><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b>STAGE SIX:</b></span><br />
<b>AUTHORITY AND INVITATION - THE MINISTRY ENDS </b><br />
<b>[SUNDAYS 25 - 33]</b><br />
<b> </b> <br />
<i>25. The parable of the labourers</i><br />
<i>26. The parable of the two sons</i><br />
<i>27. The parable of the wicked vinedressers</i><br />
<i>28. The parable of the marriage feast</i><br />
<i>29. Paying tribute to Caesar</i><br />
<i>30. The great commandment</i><br />
<i>31. Hypocrisy and ambition</i><br />
<i>32. The final sermon (1)</i><br />
<i>33. The final sermon (2)</i><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b>STAGE SEVEN:</b></span><br />
<b>GOD'S KINGDOM FULFILLED</b><br />
<b>[SUNDAYS 34]</b><br />
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<i>34. The Solemnity of Christ the King</i>Little Church Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121536785407803467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657712302642025641.post-53022185402854358292013-11-25T14:30:00.000+00:002013-11-25T14:30:56.045+00:00What is a Sacristan?According to the Catholic Encyclopaedia a Sacristan is an officer who is charged with the care of the sacristy, the church, and their contents. In ancient times many duties of the sacristan were performed by the doorkeepers (ostiarii), later by the mansionarii and the treasurers. The Decretals of Gregory IX (lib. I, tit. xxvi, "De officio sacristæ speak of the sacristan as if he had an honourable office attached to a certain benefice, and say that his duty was to care for the sacred vessels, vestments, lights, etc. Nowadays the sacristan is elected or appointed. The "Cæremoniale episcoporum" prescribed that in cathedral and collegiate churches the sacristan should be a priest, and describes his duties in regard to the sacristy, the Blessed Eucharist, the baptismal font, the holy oils, the sacred relics, the decoration of the church for the different seasons and feasts, the preparation of what is necessary for the various ceremonies, the pregustation in pontifical Mass, the ringing of the church bells, the preservation of order in the church, and the distribution of Masses; and finally it suggests that one or two canons be appointed each year to supervise the work of the sacristan and his assistants.<br />
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The under-sacristan (custos) is also mentioned in the Decretals (lib. I, tit. xxvii, "De officio custodis"). He was the assistant of the sacristan, was subject to the archdeacon, and discharged duties very similar to those of the sacristan. Now the office is hardly ever attached to a benefice, but is usually a salaried position. The Council of Trent desired that, according to the old canons, clerics should hold such offices; but in most churches, on account of the difficulty or impossibility of obtaining clerics, laymen perform many of the duties of the sacristan and under-sacristan.<br />
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<h3>
Reclaiming the Sacristy as a Place of<br />Prayer and Preparation</h3>
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by Shawn Tribe<br />
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The title of this piece might sound foreign precisely because the present culture of many sacristies has taken on an atmosphere of a work room and visiting room. It is not an uncommon sight (or sound) for the servers to be visiting, for laity to be coming in and out to catch up with the priest, for priests to be visiting with one another and so forth. Commonly heard are discussions surrounding sporting events, work, the weather, or practical parish discussion and so on. No doubt most of us have ourselves participated in this very same activity over the years to at least some extent -- I can certainly include myself in this. In a culture that is devoid of silence and inclined more to external activity than interior preparation and participation, this is not a surprise; it's a symptom...<a href="http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2008/11/reclaiming-sacristy-as-place-of-prayer.html">read more</a>Little Church Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05121536785407803467noreply@blogger.com