Sad News

It seems our Latin Mass may not continue for much longer. Our beloved Fr Tom's eyesight is failing rapidly despite many prayers and he also has other health issues. There are various priests who could and would say the Latin Mass for us but our Bishops have made it clear they will not be given permission to do so. We're praying for a change of heart... God's Will be done.

A Test of Faith

A couple of days ago I was standing at the end of our drive talking to my daughter when the earth moved. Literally. It's terrifying feeling when the ground beneath your feet shakes from side to side and you can see trees tossing wildly and hear the house creak ominously. We clutched each other and my daughter was praying aloud "Please don't let this be a big one." Fortunately it wasn't. Inside our house only a few ornaments fell off shelves and only one was broken. Since the massive Christchurch quake we are much more scared of earthquakes than we used to be. Even going into a Church is a test of Faith now, as every Catholic church in this city has posted a warning on the doors that in the case of a moderate to serious earthquake the church could be seriously damaged and that one enters at one's own risk! I haven't noticed that the numbers at Mass have fallen - we Catholics are a tough breed. But I'm sure that many a fervent prayer is uttered as we go through the doors.

Christmas Past

At this time of the year with a large part of my family overseas I was remembering Christmas's past when my own children were young and also the many nativity plays I've put on either at church or at school. When our children were young we always acted out the nativity including the 3 kings. I remember when our youngest daughter desperate to play Mary, played her with great seriousness even though her right leg was in plaster! I remember my husband was always typcast as Herod because of his stong deep voice! At school my greatest delight was once persuading a boy to be an angel. After all, all the named angels - Michael and Gabriel- had male names. So for our brave boy angel we ditched the white robes and tinsel round the head and gave him a simple and manly angel costume of austere gold. He played the part with great seriousness and dignity and it was extremely moving. Another year I shall never forget, we picked a beautiful but rather highly strung girl for Mary; all went well until Joseph made a slight mistake and Mary picked up Baby Jesus, who fortunately that year was a doll, and hit him over head with it! There were also some very touching years... when a 7year old 'Mary' sat on the front of the stage with 'Jesus' in her arms and her eyes fixed on Him, sang in a gentle, sweet voice "Sleep Quietly my Jesus..." And mostly I remember we chose as 'Mary' a dear little 8 year old and a few days before the play was performed she was diagnosed with a serious and ultimately fatal disease. But she insisted on going ahead and played her part beautifully. Now it's just Alex and me and we do no acting but he loves to get the Bible out and asks me to read aloud for us both the greatest true story ever.

A REAL Christmas!

My eldest daughter and her family are spending Christmas in Vermont USA. For the first time in their lives they are seeing, and experiencing, snow - and they are loving it! To go out in the snow and choose and cut down their own Christmas tree is a magical experience for them and as my daughter said to me "Suddenly, In The Deep Midwinter makes sense". We DO miss out here in NZ where it's hot and the Christmas tree and its ornaments looks rather tawdry in our brilliant sunshine. Some people have put Christmas lights outside their homes but they don't show up until around 10pm! And yet...the wonder of the true Christmas is as real to us in our "Upside down Christmas" as it is anywhere in the world. We still welcome God's great mercy in sending His son into our world. And our Silent Night may be hot but it's still full of joy.

Advent Changes

Our Advent is a little different this year. Usually Alex makes an lovely advent wreath which we put on our prayer table and light as we say Grace before our evening meal. This year we have put larger candles on a wide front windowsill and made the advent wreath around them. We still pray and light the candle before our meal but then we leave it so it shines out in the darkness of the street all evening. We hope it will be a blessing to those who pass by and a reminder that what we are waiting for is the celebration of the time when He who is the true Light of World came into it.

A reason to rejoice.

Many, many years ago, I was walking past a Church door on a Saturday afternoon just as a friend came out. I greeted her and she said "Hang on a minute, I've just been to confession so I've just got to do a little dance!" and she literally danced in the middle of the footpath. I was reminded of this when my husband picked me up after the Latin Mass this morning. He remarked on how cheerful I seemed. I said "I've just been to confession! My sins have been forgiven!" It's amazing how going to confession is so freeing and so joy-giving! Thank you Lord.

The power of a name

"Of course" said my daughter "when you get down to the heart of it, it's all about Jesus." I always think of this when I hear the story of Mary Magdelen's encounter with Jesus after the resurection. She doesn't recognise him. Why should she? She's just seen him die a terrible death. Then, gently, he says her name "Mary" and she knows, she knows for absolutely certain, that it's him. No one else has ever has or ever will say her name as tenderly and as lovingly as he does. I have this wild hope that one day he will say my name like that and I'll know...it's him. No one will ever say my name like he will.