This illustration of the Pentecost is a detail from “The Seven Joys of Mary,” an oil on wood created around 1480 by Hans Memling (c. 1430 – 1494). Copyright by La Collection / Artothek.

All of the illustrations in Magnificat’s  book “The Seven Joys of Mary” are taken from Hans Memling’s painting. The book features meditations on our Blessed Mother’s seven joys by Magnificat senior editor, Fr. Romanus Cessario, O.P. The foreword was penned by Cardinal Seán O’Malley, archbishop of Boston.

• A profound and lively reflection on the Seven Joys of Mary: the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Epiphany, the Resurrection, the Ascension, Pentecost, and the Assumption.
• A contemplation of the mysteries of Christ’s life, the Church, and the Sacraments, through Mary’s joys, superbly accompanied through the lens of sacred art.
• An ideal gift for Catholics and for those who wish to understand the mystery of our own salvation. Well suited for adult catechetical instruction and RCIA.

The Spirit in the City festival is just around the corner…… If you’ve never attended, join in the celebrations on any day from the  12th to the 15th of June. Be part of a growing mass of Catholic Christians who come together to celebrate our Faith in the centre of London.  Not to be missed.

Tonight my beloved and I returned from our monthly  prayer group, blessed in the knowledge that our dear friends hold  us close when they pray. We felt comforted not only by the Word of God but cosseted and enfolded in His love through the reaching out of  this small group of workers in The Vineyard: our wonderful prayer group. This group has opened wide a new door of discovery and understanding for us, about the light of love that Our Lord holds over us.

Reblogged from reinkat:

This is the festal icon of Holy Pentecost.  This particular version is Russian, likely painted in the 16th Century for the Cathedral of St. Sophia in the city of Novgorod. It might not be what you expected to see for an image of this feastday.

Here is shown the birthday of the Church, but not those dramatic moments of rushing wind,  tongues of fire, and the proclaimingof the Word in every language to amazed crowds, that are part of the Scriptural story of this wonderful day.

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The beautiful Sanctuary at St Mary Immaculate Church, Warick

This past Bank holiday week-end, my better-half and I finally decided to spend a much longed for week-end away together. It was just what the doctor ordered. It was great to just relax without any interruptions from any electronic device whatsoever. Bliss!

We decided to visit Stratford Upon Avon as we’ve never been there, and booked into a hotel in the nearby town of Warick. The next important decision, was about where we would attend Mass on Sunday and  St. Mary Immaculate Church happens to be about 5-6 km from the hotel, so that became the obvious choice for our weekly Sunday sojourn. We saw it as a  bonus that we could attend the 8;30am Mass and then carry on from there to do our site-seeing and exploring in the neighbouring town of  Stratford (or so we’d planned!) On Saturday I came down with a racking and relentless cough, which kept me wide-eyed and bush-tailed throughout the night. Not good. So, we abandoned said plans and after Mass decided to head back to the hotel where I spent the entire day in bed (still coughing) trying to catch up on a bit of sleep.

Our attendance at St. Mary Immaculate was just lovely in every sense of the word. We  were greeted by a most beautifully adorned  Sanctuary as we walked into the intimate seating area for about 200 worshippers. ( I say intimate, as our church holds probably upwards of 600 parishioners at a time.)

The icons of Saints adorned the back wall, rightfully taking their place to ‘worship’ alongside us during the Mass. The Sanctus took on a new meaning for me with these wonderful images  staring down upon the Altar, during the most special prayer of  devotion and worship in the Mass. We received Communion in both kinds that morning, in an unknown community of fellow Catholics.

After Mass we introduced ourselves to Fr. Stefan Laszczyk, who by and by came to tell us about to one of  St. Mary Immaculate’s world famous parishioners: JJR Tolkien! He and his wife were married at this church in 1916. I love the fact that in England history lies around every corner, and if you’re not careful, you may just miss an exciting titbit.

I’m glad we introduced ourselves to Fr. Laszczyk!

Sorry about the blurriness!!

Another series of lectures to begin this coming Thursday: 9th, 16th, 23th and 30th May 2013
7 – 8:30pm – Vaughan House, 46 Francis Street, SW1P 1QN, London

1. Book for 9th May, ‘A Catholic Conversation with the Earth ‘ by Mary Colwell at http://faithmatterssummer1.eventbrite.co.uk

2. Book for 16th May, ‘Credo but not credulous! Christians’ conditional loyalty’ by Dr Patrick Riordan SJ athttp://faithmatterssummer2.eventbrite.co.uk

3. Book for 23 May, “Revisiting the peace message of Pacem in Terris: have we put the words into action?” by Pat Gaffney at http://faithmatterssummer3.eventbrite.co.uk

4. Book for 30th May, “The Ten Commandments: Do they still matter?” by Fr Michael Kirwan at http://faithmatterssummer4.eventbrite.co.uk

These are public lectures and all are welcome. Registration is required as places will be limited. Please book your place at this website or email to faithmatters@rcdow.org.uk or telephone 020 7931 6078. Suggested donation per lecture is £3.

Click here for more information.

Reblogged from The Peanut Gallery:

• 

Peanut Gallery: The Vatican dares to tell it "like it was"... in this current climate of political correctness. I wonder what this will do for Christian / Muslim dialogue? Maybe interject some honesty? Or, is that too much to hope for? Time will tell.
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Pope Francis to canonize 800 Catholics martyred at hands of Muslim invaders - Liberty Unyielding…

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Reblogged from :

From:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10013905

THE future of Roman Catholic weddings in England and Wales is now in doubt because of David Cameron’s gay marriage bill, the church’s chief legal adviser on the issue has disclosed.

 (Photo: Alamy)

By John Bingham, Religious Affairs Editor

Prof Christopher McCrudden said that there are serious questions over whether the 120-year-old legal basis on which 8,500 Catholic weddings a year are performed can even “survive” the passage of the bill currently before Parliament.

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