A Message from Fr Mark
Dear friends,
Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Archbishop Thomas McMahon have issued a statement in response to the Government’s latest Regulations prohibiting gatherings of the public for communal worship in churches and other religious buildings.
They share our misgivings, but they ask us to set them aside and observe the Regulations.
It is, naturally, a matter of great distress to be deprived, once more, of the grace of the Sacraments, though we are assured that these arrangements are time limited.
During this time, it is of the first importance to remain united with each other in prayer.
In particular, the Archbishops have asked us to join in a national moment of prayer at 6pm every evening. The Angelus, the text of which is included at the end of this letter, would be a most suitable devotion for this.
On Sundays, I warmly encourage you to read the readings of the Mass and make an Act of Spiritual Communion. A prayer for this is also included at the end of this letter.
We hope to livestream the Mass on Sundays at 10.30am and on Saturdays at 12noon. Further details will follow next week.
Although this year has been a great trial, it is also a great opportunity to grow in our love for Our Lord and His blessed Mother. This pandemic has reminded us of our human frailty; for all our knowledge and scientific progress, we remain at the mercy of nature, and are reminded of the need for humility and trust in God’s loving providence.
May Mary, comforter of the afflicted and health of the sick, pray for us!
With my love and prayers,
Fr Mark
The Angelus
The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
Hail Mary…
And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary…
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray:
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.
An Act of Spiritual Communion
My Jesus,
I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.
2 November 2020
