Must-Reads
Edward Pentin interviews Rome theologian on what it means to be a ‘free-vaxxer’: https://www.ncregister.com/features/rome-theologian-discusses-the-vaccine-mandate-green-pass-and-conscience-exemptions
Michael Sean Winters argues that the American Church needs a eucharistic revival instead of yet another document: https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/distinctly-catholic/cupichs-call-eucharistic-revival-offers-bishops-way-out-mess-they
Sean Organ’s piece on the life of Catholic writer J.R.R. Tolkien: https://adamah.media/love-loss-and-literature/
A piece I wrote on the Magna Carta which was published by Adamah: https://adamah.media/magna-carta-a-very-modern-charter/
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/
Marian Route
The Marian shrines of El Pilar, Torreciudad, Montserrat, Meritxell, and Lourdes have introduced a passport scheme whereby visitors can purchase a passport and have it stamped when they visit each of the shrines as a souvenir of their visit. Similar schemes exist for those visiting National Trust properties and for those visiting Anglican cathedrals in England and Wales. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a similar passport scheme for the Marian shrines here? Who do I need to suggest it to?
Quote of the Week
“The Rosary is said not with the lips alone, muttering Hail Marys one after the other. That is the way over-pious old men and women rattle them off. —For a Christian, vocal prayer must spring from the heart, so that while the Rosary is said, the mind can enter into contemplation of each one of the mysteries.”
St Josemaria Escriva, Furrow, 477
Spiritual Reading
The Consolation of the Devout Soul
Chapter 1, Section 4: Shows that a soul free from mortal sin really is a holy soul.
In the first place, it is true holiness to keep the soul pure from mortal sin, even though it be stained with venial sins. And this is truly of faith; because the soul which is not guilty of mortal sin has sanctifying grace, which grace is named sanctifying precisely because it is the cause of sanctification, and is a gift of God inherent in the soul, rendering her the friend of God, the daughter of God, sister to our Lord Jesus Christ, heir of Paradise, and in consequence really holy. Hence it is to be observed that by this grace are holy even the blessed in Heaven, as also the great Mother of God herself, the most holy Mary; so that if they were to lose the sanctifying grace of God (which is not possible) even in Heaven they would be no longer saints. Therefore, as St. Thomas teaches, this grace is in some sort a beginning of the glory that we shall receive in Heaven (2-2, q. 243); and that light of glory, by which the souls in Heaven see God with clearness, is nothing but the same grace arrived at its total completeness. Therefore the soul that has never sinned mortally against the law of God or of the Church, or, should it indeed have done so, has obtained pardon by means of the necessary repentance, such a soul possesses real holiness, though it may have defects and venial sins, since these do not deprive it of sanctifying grace. Clearly, then, they are in error who think that those souls only are good and holy who give indications of singular perfection, and that others who have no mortal sins, but frequently fall into defects and failings, are neither saintly nor good. Yet this does not mean (it must be remembered) that venial sins are to be treated lightly ; on the contrary, as we shall see, we should consider them of great importance. But I wish clearly to make known the preciousness of sanctifying grace, which of itself constitutes a most happy state - that in which man enjoys the true friendship of God, and in which, if we are surprised by death in any way, it is impossible to lose Paradise.
How desirable it is that Christians should know well the preciousness of this gift of God! They would certainly make much more account of it, and they would not so lightly run the risk of losing it, as now they sometimes do. Oh, what a most precious ore this is, although sometimes found in a soul alloyed with many imperfections and defects! Oh, what a pearl, what a gem, although not yet purified and polished! People take little care of the richest jewel if they are not fully aware of its worth, and they easily allow it to be stolen by thieves; but if they are aware of its value, they defend it so zealously that neither skill nor violence on the part of the thief will avail to rob them of it. I could wish that all preachers and confessors and writers of spiritual books would undertake, as their principal employment, that of making known to Christians the preciousness of sanctifying grace.