Changes
Due to work commitments I no longer have the time to send out the usual weekly newsletter; therefore, it will now be monthly and return to be being free (though donations are very welcome). I will however continue the spiritual reading and must-reads columns as a separate newsletter which will come out weekly.
Looking for flatmate
Flat on Kew Road (with balcony!) and only a 10 minute walk to Richmond station. Rent is £800pcm including council tax, but excluding utilities. Let me know if you are interested or know anyone who might be.
Hot off the press
Fr Lawrence Lew’s new book on the Rosary is now available to pre-order from the Catholic Truth Society: https://www.ctsbooks.org/product/mysteries-made-visible/
The London Eucharistic Octave
From 11th to 19th September the parishes of Corpus Christi in Maiden Lane, Warwick Street, Spanish Place, and Farm Street (in association with the Ukrainian Cathedral and the Order of Malta) invite all the faithful to a week of celebrations centred on the Blessed Sacrament. A full programme can be found here.
First Saturday Devotions
Every first Saturday of the month, from 5pm, the Rosary Shrine are hosting the traditional First Saturday Devotions as requested by Our Lady through Sr Lucia of Fatima. There will be Adoration (during which time confessions will be heard), Holy Mass, and a concluding Rosary Confraternity procession.
Dates for your Diary
Friday 17 September 6pm, Solemn High Mass in the Dominican Rite at the Rosary Shrine. A Votive Mass of the Holy Rosary offered in thanksgiving for the restoration of the apse and High Altar and for the 10th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood of Fr Lawrence Lew O.P. Mass will be followed by a reception in the parish hall to which all are welcome.
Friday 17 September 7.30pm, Monthly Recollection for men with Eucharistic Adoration, meditation, examination of conscience, and confession. Organised by Opus Dei and held at 8 Orme Court, London, W2 4RQ.
Sunday 19 September 3.30pm, Corpus Christi Procession from Warwick Street to St James’s, Spanish Place.
Wednesday 29 September 6.30pm-8pm, Common Good series event 3. The common good: what does it mean for society.
Friday 8 October to Sunday 10 October, Steadfast in Faith: Being Catholic in Today’s World, Pluscarden Abbey. A Retreat for Young Catholics (18+) organised by the the Young Catholic Adult Network. For more information contact rina@youngcatholicadultnetwork.uk and book here.
Regular Events
Young Adult Mass, Farm Street Church, Sunday 7pm.
Cenacle Charismatic Prayer Group, St Patrick’s Waterloo, Monday 7.15pm. Rosary, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Praise and Worship music, followed by social with tea and coffee.
Pure in Heart, Maria Assumpta Chapel, 21 Kensington Square, London, W8 5HH, Wednesday 7pm. A young adults prayer group meeting for Holy Hour (with Eucharistic Adoration and rosary), talk, and social.
St Willibrord Fellowship, a Lectio Divina and theology reading group, Wednesday 8pm. For more information contact Kate Banks and Theo Shack at kateminolabanks@gmail.com and theoshack@live.co.uk.
Sodality of the Blessed Sacrament, Corpus Christi Maiden Lane, first Thursday of the month at 6.30pm.
Rosary group for young adults, Thursday 9pm (online). For more information contact yam@jesuit.org.uk.
Live-streamed Rosary, Rosary Shrine, Friday 8pm.
Taizé Prayer Group, Notre Dame de France, Leicester Square, Saturday 7.15pm.
Plenary Indulgences
Being the year of St Joseph, plenary indulgences can be obtained for the following:
Contemplation of the Lord’s Prayer for at least 30 minutes, or participation in a spiritual retreat of at least one day which involves meditation on St Joseph.
Fulfillment of a corporal or spiritual work of mercy, after the example of St Joseph.
Recitation of the Rosary in families and between engaged couples.
Daily entrustment to the protection of St Joseph, and invoking his intercession so that job-seekers may find employment.
Recitation of the Litanies to St Joseph or Akathistos to St Joseph, or some other prayer to St Joseph, for the relief of Christians suffering from persecution.
Recitation of any prayer legitimately approved in honour of St Joseph on the 19th of every month and every Wednesday.
Prayer to St Joseph
To be recited after saying the Rosary
To you, O blessed Joseph, do we come in our tribulation, and having implored the help of your most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke your patronage also. Through that charity which bound you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the paternal love with which you embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg you graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood, and with your power and strength to aid us in our necessities.
O most watchful Guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ; O most loving father, ward off from us every contagion of error and corrupting influence; O our most mighty protector, be kind to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness; and, as once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God’s Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your aid, we may be able to live piously, to die in holiness, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen.
Sunday Mass Readings
Sunday, 19 September: 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Wisdom 2:12,17-20; James 3:16-4:3; Mark 9:30-37
Sunday, 19 September: 17th Sunday after Pentecost (1962 Missal)
Ephesians 4:1-6; Matthew 22:34-46
Traditional Latin Mass
Listings of Traditional Latin Masses can be found here.
London Shrines
Westminster Cathedral (shrine of St John Southworth)
Rosary Shrine (diocesan shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary)
Corpus Christi Maiden Lane (diocesan shrine of the Blessed Sacrament)
Tyburn Convent (Shrine of the Martyrs at Tyburn)
Volunteering Opportunities
Accommodation
Netherhall House (male)
Ashwell House (female)
Confraternities and Guilds
Resources for Group Discussions
The Wild Goose, a 14-part video series on the Holy Spirit. A downloadable study guide can be found here.
Sycamore, a catechetical programme designed for use in parishes, chaplancies, and schools.
The Lay Community of St Benedict have a website full of helpful resources for those running or planning to run a Lectio Divina group.
Quote of the Week
“Man is made to adore and to obey: but if you will not command him; if you give him nothing to worship; he will fashion his own divinities, and find a chieftain in his own passions.”
Benjamin Disraeli, Coningsby
Spiritual Reading
The Consolation of the Devout Soul
Chapter 1, Section 3: Distinguishes two kinds of holiness.
But we should distinguish two kinds of holiness. The first is simple sanctity, which consists in the possession of sanctifying grace; and this all souls possess that are pure from mortal sin. The second is sanctity perfected; and this consists in the perfect union of our will with the Will of God; so that the soul abhors not only mortal sin, but also deliberate venial sins, and is ready to execute that which we clearly know to be the most pleasing to God, even in things which are not expressly commanded. (St. Thomas, 2-2, q. 184, a. 2.)
Postscript
Inevitably I will have left out events, prayer groups, and volunteering opportunities so please feel free to get in touch with me at edwardckendall@gmail.com if you know of anything worthy of inclusion in this newsletter. And please subscribe and share this newsletter with all your friends and anybody who you think might be interested by clicking the buttons below.