THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD 2 February 2020
Fr Frank writes:
My dear friends,
Of today’s Feast, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI writes:
….(today) we contemplate the Lord Jesus, whom Mary and Joseph bring to the Temple “to present him to the Lord”. Simeon identifies him as “a light for revelation to the Gentiles” and announces with prophetic words his supreme offering to God and his final victory. This is the meeting point of the two Testaments, Old and New. Jesus enters the ancient temple, he who is the new Temple of God: he comes to visit his people, thus bringing to fulfilment obedience to the Law and ushering in the last times of salvation.
It is interesting to take a close look at this entrance of the Child Jesus into the solemnity of the temple, in the great comings and goings of many people, busy with their work: priests and Levites taking turns to be on duty, the numerous devout people and pilgrims anxious to encounter the Holy God of Israel. Yet none of them notices anything. Jesus was a child like the others, a first-born son of very simple parents. Even the priests proved incapable of recognizing the signs of the new and special presence of the Messiah and Saviour. Alone two elderly people, Simeon and Anna, discover the great newness. Led by the Holy Spirit, in this Child they find the fulfilment of their long waiting and watchfulness. Their prophetic attitude contains the entire Old Covenant which expresses the joy of the encounter with the Redeemer.
On Monday this week we celebrate the martyr St Anne Line (who lived in Dunmow). It is also the feast of St Blaise. According to long tradition, throats will be blessed on this day with the words: “”Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, Bishop and Martyr, may God free you from disease of the throat and from every other evil, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
May God bless you and keep you safe.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
An elderly Irishman who was dying was visited by his priest.
“Will you renounce the devil and all his works?” asked the priest. There was no answer.
The priest shouted, “Murphy, will you renounce the devil and all his works?”
The old man opened one eye and said, “You needn’t shout Father, I heard you the first time, but this is no time to be making enemies.”
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) 26 January 2020
Fr Frank writes:
My dear friends,
On 29th March this year England will be re-dedicated as the Dowry of Mary. “Dowry” is an unusual word and can lead to misunderstanding. What the Church will be doing is re-consecrating our country to Mary.
The first dedication of England to Mary was made by King Richard II in Westminster Abbey in 1381 (as depicted in The Wilton Diptych). At that time the King was asking for the protection of Our Lady in the face of great political turmoil. Arising from this, England received the title ‘Mary’s Dowry’: meaning that England was ‘set aside’ as a gift for Our Lady in return for her guidance and protection. It is for this reason that England alone is permitted to recite the ‘Hail Mary’ during the prayers of intercession at Mass – a great concession.
Of course, not all those who live here nowadays are Catholic – we live in a multi-denominational/multi-cultural society. But as Catholics we are invited to make a personal promise to live as people committed to Mary and her Holy Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. In addition to this personal promise we are asked to make a communal entrustment. As part of the communal entrustment there will be special intentions at our Masses on the weekend of the re-dedication. We will also, like many other parishes up and down the country, be introducing the Angelus at each and every Mass from Monday. It is already prayed before the 6.00pm Vigil Mass at Frinton and after the 10.45am Mass at Dovercourt, and so is familiar to many. By introducing it into all our Masses we make a sign of this ‘communal entrustment’. In addition to the introduction of the Angelus, we will also be making a day pilgrimage to Walsingham (England’s Nazareth) later in the year. Watch out for details of this in the Newsletter.
For more information see: https://www.behold2020.com/the-rededication
May our good God bless you, and may Our Lady of Walsingham Pray for you.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
A Yorkshireman wanted an inscription on his wife’s gravestone to read – “She was Thine”. The engraver mistakenly put “She was Thin”. The man wrote back saying they had missed out the “E”. The next effort read: “’E’ She was Thin”.
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 19 January 2020
Fr Frank writes:
My dear friends,
Today marks a new beginning as we contemplate the teaching of Jesus revealed in the Gospel readings throughout Ordinary Time – we are no longer focussed on the ‘how’ or ‘when’ of Christmas, but on the ‘why?’. Why did Christ become one of us? It is his teaching which reveals this.
The forgiveness Jesus came to bring is emphasised in today’s Gospel reading in which St John the Baptist points to Jesus and says: ‘Look, there is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world’. Familiar words as they have formed part of the Mass for centuries: words that point to Jesus, the one who takes our sins upon himself.
Thinking about the forgiveness that Jesus won for us causes us to look to the future (contemplating new beginnings). True, we need to look back too, but only in order to learn from our individual mistakes. We need to be aware of the danger of becoming weighed down or oppressed by guilt – something which should have no place in our lives. The whole purpose of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is to remind us that through the death and resurrection of Christ (the Lamb of God), the Eternal Father has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins. The truth is that our past sins, once confessed, are forgiven so that we can put them where they belong – in the past. The Sacrament promotes a reflective attitude, but so that we can learn and thus be set free. It is rightly focussed on our future, on making a new beginning.
On this Peace Day, I pray that the Peace of the Lord may be with you always.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
Our minister, on entering the church and finding water on the floor (due to burst pipes), said later, “So I went into the church and mopped the floor with my wife.”
The Baptism of the Lord (Year A)
Fr Frank writes:
My dear friends,
At first glance, the Baptism of the Lord might seem an odd feast.
Since the Catholic Church teaches that the Sacrament of Baptism is necessary for the remission of sins, particularly Original Sin, why was Christ baptised? After all, he was born without Original Sin, and he lived his entire life without sinning. Therefore, he did not need the sacrament as we do.
Many of the Fathers of the Church, as well as the medieval Scholastics, saw Christ’s Baptism as the institution of the sacrament. Our baptism, therefore, arises from his baptism, and is a sacramental blessing resulting from his condescending to be baptised by John. Never underestimate the significance of baptism. I heard the story once of an academic who, instead of lining the walls of his office with his certificates, diplomas and degrees (as is usual), had hung just one framed certificate – his baptismal certificate. Perhaps you agree with him that your baptism is the single most important thing that has happened in your life.
Additionally, Jesus’s baptism, the descent of the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove) and the voice of God the Father announcing that this was his Son, in whom he was well pleased, marks the beginning of Christ’s public ministry. Important teaching which will occupy our Gospel readings for many weeks to come.
May the God of glory be your glory today and forever.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
Advice to Preachers:
If after ten minutes you don’t strike oil – THEN STOP BORING!
The Epiphany of the Lord 5 January
Fr Frank writes:
My dear friends,
The account of the journey of the magi provides us with an opportunity to reflect on our own faith journey.
As the magi were guided by a star, we too have received guidance along the way. We can usefully use this day to recall with gratitude the ‘stars’ we have followed – all those people who have helped us along the way. Perhaps we have had experiences that changed us an opened us up to a deeper understanding of the Faith. We might even be able to say that there was a time in our lives when, like the magi, we found Jesus. Yet, is it not also true that this discovery is never complete? There is always more we can learn about Jesus. We find him again and again each day. We discover him anew in the Mass, in our daily prayer, in one another and in reading Holy Scripture.
Let this day, then, be one of thanksgiving as we are led, once more, to a new finding of Jesus.
On a personal note, Anne and I would like to thank you all for your greetings, kind words, encouragement and many gifts received at Christmas. Thank you too for the generous Christmas Offering. You are truly generous people and we are fortunate to be able to live amongst you and serve you.
With every blessing for 2020.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile: True memories of Nativity plays:
Michael was excited to be the innkeeper in the school play. When Mary and Joseph knocked on the door and asked if he had a room, he said very loudly, ‘Yes. Would you like one with a sea view?’
A primary school head tells of his first-year pupils who were playing the Wise men. The first said, ‘I bring gold’, the second said, ‘I bring myrrh’ and the third announced, ‘Frank sent this!’
A mother relates: I was telling my daughter about the gifts brought by the Wise men. My young daughter was unimpressed and said ‘They should have brought nappies.’
Third Sunday of Advent 15 December
ADVENT RECONCILIATION SERVICE AT HARWICH/DOVERCOURT:
Saturday 21st December at 10.00am. If you are a Frinton/Walton parishioner and couldn’t get to the Advent Reconciliation Service at Sacred Heart and St Francis on Saturday morning (14th), then please do consider joining the people of Our Lady Queen of Heaven, next Saturday.
CHRISTMAS IN THE TWO PARISHES
Harwich & Dovercourt:
Christmas Eve – Christmas family Mass with the blessing of the crib: 6.00pm.
This Mass is for everyone. All children are invited, should they wish, to come dressed in Christmas costume: shepherds, angels, Mary, Joseph, Kings, donkey, sheep etc. Please invite your family, friends and neighbours to come and join us on this joyful occasion.
Christmas Day – Mass of the Day: 10.45am
Frinton & Walton:
Christmas Eve – Night Mass of Christmas with the blessing of the crib. Begins with Carols at 8.00pm.
Mass begins as soon as I get back from Harwich/Dovercourt. This is a very popular Mass and you are advised to come early to get a seat.
Christmas Day – Mass of the Day: 8.30am.
May Christ, the one we long for, bless you now and always.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
Santa joke (but don’t alarm the children!):
‘Santa Claus is coming to town!’
He’s making a list
He’s checking it twice
He’s gonna find out who’s naughty or nice
Santa Claus is in contravention of article 4 of the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/67