Tuesday 30 June 2015

Good Friday in the Czech Republic


The picture shows some of the beautiful city of Prague. It is home to a great many fine churches but the Czech Republic has a very low level of religious affiliation - after the devastation of Communism 86 percent of its 10.5 million inhabitants claim to no longer have a religious affiliation. The Czech Republic is, of course, home to the Grand Master of the Order, HE Jan Count Dobrzenský z Dobrzenicz and many of our own GB members were there in St Vitus Cathedral when Cardinal Duka became Chaplain General to the Order.

The good news is that it seems that there are plans afoot to make Good Friday a national holiday. The Communists are against it - 50 years ago they abolished it as a day off. A bill was initiated by Socialist Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka's Cabinet on June 24. The proposal originally came from the co-governing Christian Democratic People's Party. According to Deputy Prime Minister Pavel Chief Bělobrádek, the impact of an additional public holiday on the economy is minimal. Czech media expected that the project will find a broad majority in Parliament. Already 90 of the 190 MPs have signed a corresponding cross-party application. 

Considering that 86 percent of the 10.5 million inhabitants of the Czech Republic are non-denominational, and only ten per cent Catholics this seems remarkable but at least reintegrating Christian tradition into the secular calendar. 

H/T KathNet News

Tuesday 23 June 2015

Investiture


To all members and friends...
A timely reminder that you should all have received the invitations to the Vigil and Investiture 
in Manchester on 24th and 25th July 
and the accompanying Dinner and Luncheon,

The RSVP date is next Wednesday 1st July.

If you are intending to come along, please do reply by then, 
as the catering and other arrangements need to be completed. 
As the Grand Master will be attending and we are celebrating Pontifical Mass, 
please do make every effort to be there and to bring along friends and guests.

Sunday 14 June 2015

Birthday Greetings!


Joining with others, the Grand Priory of Great Britain wishes a very happy birthday to the 
50th Grand Master of the Order of St Lazarus,
His Excellency the Count Jan Dobrzensky z Dobrzenicz!

Tuesday 9 June 2015

Legitimacy


Due to some recent - yet unwarranted - speculation in some quarters, the Order has re-issued the "Declaration of Legitimacy" explaining in a wider context, the protection of the Royal House of France, whose representative is HRH Prince Charles-Philippe d'Orléans, Duke d’Anjou. 


DECLARATION OF LEGITIMACY

The Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem is, since its origin in the Holy Land, a Catholic institution. Its spiritual vocation was solidified with the search for Christian unity during the nineteenth century.

Since the fourteenth century, the Order of Saint Lazarus has remained under the protection of the Royal House of France.

This identity, which is its legitimacy, continues in our time with an ecclesial, historical and human foundation.

I - Under the jurisdiction of the ordinary of the Archdiocese of Prague, His Eminence Dominik Cardinal Duka, President of the Czech Bishops' Conference, the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem has gained the status of a private association of the faithful.

Furthermore, His Eminence Dominik Cardinal Duka is the Chaplain General of the Order.

II - The Order of Saint Lazarus is under the protection of the Royal House of France, whose representative in the Grand Magistry is HRH Prince Charles-Philippe d'Orléans, Duke d’Anjou. Prince Charles-Philippe is both Grand Master Emeritus and Grand Prior of France.

III - In accordance with Articles 20 and 24 of the Constitutional Charter, His Excellency Jan Count Dobrzenskỳ z Dobrzenicz was elected Grand Master on 20 November 2010 at the General Chapter, by all Knights, Dames and Chaplains who were eligible to vote. Count Dobrzenskỳ z Dobrzenicz was installed on that the same day, in Orleans Cathedral, as the 50th Magnus Magister citra et ultra maria, Præceptor Boignacy.

IV – In accordance with the introduction of the Constitutional Charter, the Order of Saint Lazarus formed its spiritual heritage in the nineteenth century by admitting Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant members, and in so doing it defined its mission: to assist the most disadvantaged by working for Christian unity in a spirit of chivalry.

V - All members are committed to promoting the spiritual, charitable and traditional goals of the Order in the spirit of the Constitutional Charter and obeying, in this context, to the hierarchy. Moreover, the Order asks each postulant to commit to the decree of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith rejecting membership in the Freemasonry, approved by His Holiness Pope John Paul II on 26 November 1983.

In recent years, organisations have used the green cross to imitate the Order of Saint Lazarus, by usurping elements of its identity and its symbols. These organisations claim the “green cross”, illegitimately, to promote activities for their own ends.

Unlike the Order of Saint Lazarus, these organizations cannot guarantee the complete separation of their rank from the members of the societies mentioned in the decree of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 26 November 1983.

The Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem in no way condones the methods and the actions of these organisations.

The Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem is a historic institution which serves the poorest and promotes Christian unity, in a spirit of chivalry.

Signed by:

HE Dominik Cardinal Duka O.P.
Chaplain General

HRH Prince Charles-Philippe d’Orléans.
Grand Master Emeritus

HE Jan Count Dobrzenskỳ z Dobrzenicz
50th Grand Master

Monday 1 June 2015

Chartres Pilgrimage

Notre Dame Cathedral full of young pilgrims.

One of the members of the Grand Priory of Great Britain undertook the Chartres Pilgrimage. He gives the following account of it. Further photos at: Notre Dame de Cretiente.

Jubilant, and blister free, I have just returned from the annual three day pilgrimage from Notre-Dame de Paris to Notre-Dame de Chartres, organised by The Association of Our Lady of Christendom. The theme for the pilgrimage this year was “Jesus Christ Saviour of the World” and each day through Mass, spiritual exercises, confession and praying the Rosary we felt a real sense of hope for the Church!

Drawing together thousands of people, from places as far away as the Middle East, in a very simple way we saw our rich Catholic tradition manifest on the Parisian streets and in the French countryside. For the second time in three years I was a part of an overtly faithful youthful, dynamic and challenging witness to the universality of Catholicism.

This year the schedule had to be changed because of the limited space on the ferry, instead of meeting at Westminster Cathedral for Mass, we met St Pancras to take the Eurostar directly to Paris. At the station I was immediately stuck with the sense of familiarity and friendship among the group. Suddenly I, in reality a mere novice, had become a seasoned veteran able to answer the many questions of those who were about to embark on their first experience of Chartres.

Sharing the carriage with other travellers, we had to forgo the usual housekeeping introductions. Nevertheless we did have the chance to come together on the short journey to Paris and, over those 2 hours, we spoke about why we were joining the pilgrimage. On arriving in to Gare du Nord we made the short trip to our hotel and each person went their separate way to make preparations for the next day; for me this included dinner and stocking up on essential supplies for the trip. The pilgrimage started on Saturday morning as we arrived outside Notre Dame Cathedral and loaded our bags onto the Etrangers van to be transported along the journey. Each year on the first day there is always the tangible feeling that we are all about to embark on an arduous journey, one together in faith.

The three day pilgrimage is incredibly liberating, it provides everyone with the opportunity for silent contemplation and like it or not a chance to escape everyday distractions of a mobile, watch, work etc. The pilgrimage organisers prepared mediations for the priests to lead throughout the walk. Each one was inspiring in content and uplifting in message; covering faith, tradition, history and modern day events. I personally benefitted from these 20 minute periods of contemplation and personal prayer, which were a good relief to the usual noise and hustle and bustle of my daily life in London.

It was with great enthusiasm that we entered and took our allotted place at the front the Cathedral with the Normandy region. This year we were around 50 pilgrims, making up the two British chapters; walking under the banners of Our Lady of Walsingham and Saint Alban. What more of an inspiring way to start off a pilgrimage could we have had that to participate, in a packed Notre-Dame, in a Solemn Mass celebrated by Dom Louis-Marie OSB, Abbot of Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux, in the presence of The Right Reverend Jérôme Beau, Auxiliary Bishop of Paris; both of whom peached superbly and directed us to continue in prayer and to be proud of our faith. After the blessing of the banners the pilgrimage started in earnest.



Walking through the streets of Paris I reflected on what impact the throng of Catholics, banners unfurled, would have on the ordinary lives of those who live and work in this major European city. On a practical note, the support team worked with such organised precision that each chapter was protected, guided, assisted and when needed encouraged to make the next stage of the journey. We walked at a brisk pace and on leaving the built-up city we arrived into rural France, where at the first stop we were welcomed by fresh water and the most refreshing apple that I can remember! Throughout the rest of the day we were blessed by superb weather, and after 12 hours of walking the group had come together as a unit working with and for each other. Walking into the first campsite we were lucky that our bags and tents were situated at the entrance. The relief on peoples’ faces was obvious and after a brief moment of calm, the pilgrims went about their own routines of unpacking, cleaning and eating, before bedding down for the night in preparation for the next days’ early start.

Pentecost Sunday was special this weekend. Stopping at a racecourse on the route, the pilgrims gathered in the open air to attend Mass celebrated by The Right Reverend Athanasius Schneider O.R.C., Auxiliary Bishop of Astana. Pentecost is a wonderful solemnity which speaks about the universality of the Church, and at that moment I was surrounded by thousands of people, from the far reaches of the globe, attending Mass which was familiar and close to their hearts. It amazes me that in a field, which seemed far from civilisation, people were on their knees praying the Mass, in front of a magnificent ‘temporary sanctuary’, with the hundreds of Priests hearing Confession, and a super choir evoking the sense of the sacred. Each day, it was an uplifting sight to see young and old, religious and lay kneeling in the country lanes receiving confession. I was mindful of what Pope Francis had said just a few weeks earlier “Everyone should leave the confessional with happiness in their hearts and a face radiant with hope even if sometimes, as we all know, it is bathed with the tears of conversion and the joy that comes from that.”

Bishop Schneider offered the most inspiring and heartfelt sermon for the Mass, himself being a fellow pilgrim, and he pulled no punches in what he had to say. He spoke directly to those gathered in that field, but his words were directed well beyond this captivated congregation. The most salient part for me was his closing exhortation: “What a beautiful vocation it is to be a true Catholic! What a beautiful vocation to fight for the integrity of the Faith, and the commandments of God! What a beautiful vocation it is to be a Catholic family, a domestic Church! What a beautiful vocation it is to be a chaste young man, or a chaste young woman! What a beautiful vocation it is to be a seminarian and a priest with a pure and ardent heart!” Following the Mass we set off for the final stages of Sunday’s march. As we continued into the afternoon and early evening, just as it had been on the first day, the group was feeling strong and elated by the day’s events. We were all given a life as we saw, with 2 hours left to walk for the day, the spires of Chartres Cathedral in the distance.

Arriving at the campsite that evening we were all feeling in high spirits and, after a day of beautiful weather, welcomed the coolness of the evening. Having completed the usual ritual of washing and eating, I headed up to the transportable Altar at the center of the campsite to attend exposition and benediction – which was presided over by The Right Reverend Michel Pansard, Bishop of Chartres. It was a beautiful way to round off the day in quiet adoration, and the Bishop spoke about the need to consecrate our lives to the Blessed Virgin Mary; every step on our pilgrimage being a prayer to the Mediatrix of all graces.  

During the final day of the walk I was conflicted between the feeling of relief and joy that the end was in sight, and the feeling of sadness that the experience seemed all too short! The chapter had become on community of friends, who had been on a journey together and who would, no doubt, share these experiences going forward. The last day is much shorter than the others, but it does still involve over 5 hours of walking! They were, for me, the best 5 hours. We sang out in loud voice Jubilate Deo! as we approached Chartres Cathedral, unlike in 2013 the bells were silent, but for that fact we sang out even louder. During the Mass, offered by The Very Reverend Emmanuel-Marie, Abbot of Sainte-Marie de Lagrasse.

It is hard to describe the feeling of being surrounded by thousands of people who have all just completed such an arduous walk, yet are elated and singing out in joy at arriving in front of the Cathedral. As the procession of the statues of Our Lady, the banners, the Priests and Religious and Sacred Ministers passed through the streets the pilgrims were on their feet singing and applauding – nous avons arrive! The Mass was the perfect end to the day, before we all wound our way to the comforts of the local hotel.

On Tuesday morning we had Mass together in the crypt of the Cathedral, where Fr Bede Rowe gave a perfectly pitched sermon which resonated very personally and spiritually with our group; to him I can only say thank you for summing up in a few short sentences the depth of feeling I had experienced. A special thanks has to be given to 2 other priests who accompanying us on our journey, Fr Joseph Gedeon and Fr Alexander Redman. Both gave strong spiritual direction to those who requested it, and heard countless confessions as we walked.

I would strongly encourage anyone who is interested in learning more about themselves and their faith, familiar with the extraordinary form or not, indeed Catholic or not, to consider making this pilgrimage next year! It has become an important part of my year, and I have made some strong friends through this journey.

Regina sacratissimi Rosarii – Ora pro nobis!