Alan Burgess will be with us again for the weekends before and after Christmas, during his short vacation from the Bede College in Rome where he began his 2nd year (of 4) of formation for the Priesthood after completing his Pastoral Placement at St Joseph’s last summer.  As an instituted Lector he takes precedence over our commissioned Readers.

Philip Andrews, whom many of you met a few months ago, will be living with us from January 2010 until the autumn (when, like Alan, he will continue to have a base here). Philip is scheduled to attend the annual Selection Conference at St John’s Seminary, Wonersh in April and, if accepted for Priestly Forma-tion, will begin his time at Seminary in September, Deo volente.

The Epiphany, in the Church’s ancient tradition, is not simply the coming of the Magi (the Wise Men from the East) but also the Baptism of the Lord in the Jordan, and His first miracle of changing water into wine at the wedding feast of Cana. These three events – which are one – are thus celebrated on three consecutive Sundays (this year on the 3rd, 10th and 17th January).

TODAY the Magnus, the wise man, finds weeping in a crib Him whom he sought for shining in the stars. TODAY the wise man sees clearly revealed in swaddling clothes Him whom he had long patiently awaited unseen in the heavens. TODAY the wise man ponders in profound amazement over what he sees there: heaven on earth, earth in heaven, man in God, God in man, and Him whom the whole universe cannot contain, confined in a tiny body. And immediately on seeing, he professes with mystical gifts that he believes and does not argue: he acknowledges God with frankincense, the King with gold, with myrrh the mortal One destined to die. So it is that the Gentile, who was last, has become first: for then the belief of the nations began from the faith of the Magi.

TODAY Christ entered the riverbed of the Jor-dan, to wash away the world’s sin: John him-self bears witness that he came for this: “Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him who takes away the sins of the world.” TODAY the servant holds the Lord, man holds God, John holds Christ: holds Him, as about to receive, not to grant forgiveness. TODAY, as the prophet says: “The Lord’s voice” is “on the waters”. What Voice? “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” TODAY the Holy Spirit floats over the waters in the form of a dove, so that by this sign it might be known that the world’s universal shipwreck has ceased, as the dove had announced to Noah that the world’s flood has subsided. Nor does this dove carry a branch of the old olive, but it pours the whole richness of the olive on the head of the Author of the new anointing, in or-der to fulfil what the prophet foretold: “Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above other kings.”

TODAY Christ gives the beginnings of the signs from heaven, when He changes water into wine. But water was to be changed into the mystery of the blood, so that Christ, from the goblet of His Body, might give pure draughts to those who drink, to fulfil that saying of the prophet: “My chalice which inebriates me, how good it is.”

From the Sermons of St Peter Chrysologus

Week beginning 12th December, 3rd Sunday of Advent

St John of the Cross (Monday 14th) was born in 1542 and died in 1592. During his life he helped St Teresa of Avila to reform the Carmelite Order, and like her became one of the great mystics of the Church – he is a recognised master of the spiritual life, and quoted as such in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Here is one of his prayers we could make our own:

O blessed Jesus, give me stillness of soul in you. Let your mighty calmness reign in me. Rule me, O King of Greatness, King of Peace.

Week beginning 12th December, 3rd Sunday of Advent

Sacred Heart: The Priests of our Parish
St Joseph: All parishioners
St John Fisher/St Therese: Ellen Fermey
St Thomas More/St Anthony: Parliament & all in authority
Our Lady (Saturday – Monday): Deacon John Sampson
Cure d’Ars: Vocations to the Priesthood

Find out about our Votive Lamps at the Shrines programme.

Once again in today’s Gospel we see the figure of St John the Baptist, whose ministry we heard about last Sunday as well. It is very appropriate that St John should always appear on two of the Advent Sundays, for he has a double role to fulfil. He is both the last (and greatest) of the Prophets, and as such he brings the Old Testament to its conclusion. He is also the first Martyr of the New Testament, giving his life for the Truth – the Truth ultimately revealed perfectly in Christ.

John is thus both herald and witness – and in both roles he calls us to repentance, to measure our own lives by the standard of the Gospel, and to have the courage to make changes where these are necessary.

Last week, in this place, we mentioned the importance of our Advent Confession – the best way to welcome Christ, not only into our world but into our souls, when he comes on Christmas Day. Today’s Gospel brings home to us the importance of proper preparation for this Confession. When the soldiers and the tax- collectors ask John for advice, he is very clear and explicit, telling them exactly where they need to improve. So too, if we give time and attention to our Examination of Conscience prior to Confession, the Holy Spirit will guide us clearly and directly too – and give us the courage to act.

There are some very good aids to making your Examination of Conscience in our Bookshop (including a CTS leaflet, priced just 20p). A brief guide is printed below:

1. ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart’

• Have I been loyal to the teachings of the Church?
• Am I faithful to my daily prayers?
• Have I put my trust in superstition or the Occult?
• Have I blasphemed against God or used bad language?
• Have I told lies or broken my word?
• Did I deliberately miss Mass on any Sunday or Holyday of Obligation?
• Have I received Holy Communion without proper reverence, care or thanksgiving?
• Did I fulfil my Easter duties?

2. ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself’

• Have I neglected my parents, or family responsibilities?
• Have I got drunk, been greedy, used drugs or pornography?
• Have I been lazy at work, in study or at home?
• Have I been impatient, angry or jealous?
• Have I taken part in or encouraged abortion, the destruction of human embryos, euthanasia or any other means of taking life?
• Have I used forms of birth control forbidden by the Church
• Have I cheated, stolen or gambled beyond my means?
• Have I told lies to excuse myself or injure others?

My dear People,

I am writing to you today to inform you personally, that Pope Benedict has accepted my resignation as Archbishop of Southwark. As many of you will readily realise, the reason for this decision is my state of health. In communicating this to you, I wish, first of all, to express my heartfelt thanks for your prayers and your understanding over the last two years when my health problems have been particularly severe. Needless to say, this was a very difficult decision to make and it is with great sadness that I write this letter.

Visiting our parishes, like visiting our schools, has been one of the greatest joys of being Archbishop and something that I have missed very much over the last two years when I have been less mobile. I know that there are some parishes that I have been unable to visit and this is a matter of real regret. It has nonetheless been wonderful to share in parish life and to experience the real devotion and sense of community that we have in our parishes.

Please do continue to pray for me as I await further surgery. I can assure you that you will alll be very much in my thoughts and prayers both now and in the future.

With my warmest greetings, I am your sincerely in Christ,

+Kevin McDonald
Archbishop of Southwark

The Press Release

Pope Benedict XVI has today accepted the resignation of Archbishop Kevin McDonald of Southwark in accordance with Canon 401.2. The Archbishop has submitted his resignation to the Holy Father having taken account of medical advice. The Archbishop has had a triple heart bypass and also suffers from severe osteo arthritis. This has already necessitated surgery and the Archbishop envisages
further surgery in 2010.

Archbishop McDonald said:

I feel great sadness at having to relinquish my post as Archbishop of Southwark. Although I have had to contend with illness over the last three years, this appointment has been a great grace. It has been a privilege to lead this great Diocese and I have received a wonderful response to everything I have tried to do. I have also been very appreciative of the prayers of so many people while I have been ill. The Diocese will continue to be very much in my thoughts and prayers in the time ahead.

A Diocesan Administrator will be appointed soon and he will be in charge of the Diocese until a new Archbishop takes possession of the Diocese.

St John the Baptist calls us, today, to prepare a way for the Lord (Luke 3: 1 – 6) and, next Sunday (Luke 3: 10 – 18), provides the people his day (and us) with ways of putting this into practice.

He went through the whole of Jordan district proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Our English word Repent comes from the Greek metanoia – which means to turn around. This happens for us in the Sacrament of Confession (sometimes known as Penance or Reconciliation) in which we turn around from our life of sin and turn towards God. By his mercy and forgiveness God then turns around our lives, renewing our life with Him.

The Season of Advent, its readings, hymns and prayers, are a constant echo of the voice of St John the Baptist, calling us to repent, to turn around from the darkness of sin, to face the direction from which the light comes, that we may welcome Jesus, the Light of the World!

Examination of Conscience prepares us for the pre-Christmas Confessions so that we can be ready to welcome Him who makes all things new. It is irresponsible to approach the Confessional without first making a good examination of conscience – asking God to enlighten our hearts and minds so that we can truly known and acknowledge our sins since, without such awareness, we cannot realistically turn away from them.

There are many aids to examing our conscience, which we must always do in preparation for our Confession, but there is no substitute for the regular examination of conscience as part of our daily evening prayers, when we reflect on the past day, thanking God for His goodness, and acknowledging our misuse of His gifts and our failures to grasp the opportunities which He has offered us.

Begin by praying the prayer at the end of this post before searching your conscience for all the sins that you can remember without help. It can be helpful to consider these under the headings of:

1. Sins against God
2. Sins against others
3. Sins against myself.

Then you mught us an outline examination of conscience in the Simple Prayer Book or other form which may help you recall other sins that you had forgotten or to which your conscience was dulled. In Confession you should mention the frequency of the more important sins, and describe then as briefly and simply as possible.

CTS Leaflets on Examination of Conscience and Going to Confession, and other books are available at the back of the Church, in the Narthex and in the Bookshop. You could also read the Compendium to the Catechism of the Catholic Church on Conscience, 372 – 376, and on the Sacrament of Confession, 302 – 310.

A Prayer before my Examination of Conscience

Loving Father, enlighten my heart and mind  by the grace of your Holy Spirit that I may tryly know my sins, acknowledge them with sorrow and confess them honestly.

In the Sacrament of Confession may I know your forgiveness, experience your peace and love, and rejoice in being restored to communion with your Church.