The following Facebook post was sent to STM Parish, Toronto. It was sent by a young visitor who who reflects on the place of truth, beauty and goodness.
Unless you experience it, a lengthy essay would be needed to explain, but everything is perfectly laid out: the language, the intentions, the times to kneel, stand, sit: everything. Nothing is left unsaid. Everything is in it's right place.
Everything is properly disposed for the worship of God.
Today, the Mass was sung, and there was multiple pieces by composer William Byrd, a favourite of the Queen of his day because he created beautiful Anglican hymns for his sovereign by day, and excellent chant for his persecuted Catholic brothers and sisters with the rest of his time and talent.
In the last month I have attended Masses of the Ghanian and Syro-Malabar communities. It is a great benefit of living in such a diverse city to be able to goto Masses of many rites and languages. And everything done in these Masses are really good for these communities. But I have to say: my heart is with the Anglican-use liturgy.
And, I had this insight: how could this thing of great beauty and truth and goodness have survived so many cultural upheavals, starting with the vicious persecutions of the Church in England under Henry VIII and on?
Well, perhaps it is because of the many Holy men and and women who came before the martyrs and, of course, the incredible faith of the many martyrs of England and Wales which ensued.
All the very best things of Bede, Becket, Hugh of Lincoln, David, More and on and on and on... all the very best of their lives, their education, their formation, their blood, sweat, tears and prayers: all the very best of the way God loves us and wants us to love and honour Him back: it is all in the Anglican-use liturgy.
I hope you get a chance to visit one of their parishes around the world. Their communities are small and loving. According to my friends, they look out for their members Monday thru Saturday, and not just observe them on Sunday.
As the Church continues to be ripped asunder from the appalling leadership of most bishops in the Western world, as the courts and insurance companies wrestle away the secular treasures of the Church, from money to land. As these institutions sadly seem to be required to force justice into the behavioural norm of the chancelleries around the world, there will be these little enclaves of charity rooted in the first Commandment especially found in these Anglican Use parishes.
On the Feast Day of Mary,
our mother and our greatest patron in her maternal responsibilities with Jesus her son, may you have a 2019 that is full of peace, joy and the building of the Kingdom where ever you are.
Peace of Christ +++
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