Dominica in Septuagesima : De profúndis clamávi ad te.

In the midst of tribulation, a shaft of light pierces the darkness:

[5] The sorrows of death surrounded me: and the torrents of iniquity troubled me.

Circumdederunt me dolores mortis, et torrentes iniquitatis conturbaverunt me.

[6] The sorrows of hell encompassed me: and the snares of death prevented me.
Dolores inferni circumdederunt me, præoccupaverunt me laquei mortis.

[7] In my affliction I called upon the Lord, and I cried to my God: And He heard my voice from His holy temple: and my cry before Him came into His ears.
In tribulatione mea invocavi Dominum, et ad Deum meum clamavi : et exaudivit de templo sancto suo vocem meam; et clamor meus in conspectu ejus introivit in aures ejus.

[2] I will love thee, O Lord, my strength:
Diligam te, Domine, fortitudo mea.

[3] The Lord is my firmament, my refuge, and my deliverer. My God is my helper, and in Him will I put my trust. My protector and the horn of my salvation, and my support.
Dominus firmamentum meum, et refugium meum, et liberator meus. Deus meus adjutor meus, et sperabo in eum; protector meus, et cornu salutis meæ, et susceptor meus.

[4] Praising I will call upon the Lord: and I shall be saved from my enemies.
Laudans invocabo Dominum, et ab inimicis meis salvus ero.

[Ps. XVII. 5-7 & 2-3]

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per te, Maria. 

Candlemas 2023

Today, we commemorate the feasts of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. 

On the occasion of these two feasts, I am renewing the installation carried out at Candlemas in 2021 which enthroned the Holy Infant Jesus and which was supplemented at Candlemas 2022 by including prayers from Papa Stronsay to the Holy Chaplet.

The expanded, illustrated version of the Devotion which can be viewed as a PDF by clicking on the link below:

👇

 The Holy Infant Jesus - A Devotion in Words and Images.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam. 

St Peter's Complaynt : 2nd edition

Today we are posting a link to a pdf for the second edition of St Peters Complaynt by St Robert Southwell (see end of post). This revised edition incorporates a number of minor corrections to content and formatting, together with some modifications to the paraphrases. We are publishing it on the Feast of the Holy Family with a confident hope of help for our family members now but especially at the hour of our death.

👈The image on the front cover, known as The Tears of Saint Peter (1587-1596), is by El Greco (Domḗnikos Theotokópoulos) 1541-1614. Museo Soumaya at Plaza Carso (Mexico City). CC BY-SA 3.0. The painting overlaps the period of St Robert Southwell’s mission and imprisonment, leading to his execution in 1595. Please pray for the soul of Esther Clark. R.I.P. She gave a framed copy of this painting to the author in the mid 1980’s.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, assist me in my last agony.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in peace with you. 

Amen.

Here is the link to  👉 St Peters Complaynt

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

The Nativity of Our Lord

Today we celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord,  taking our text from the first edition of the Douay-Rheims  New Testament, published in 1582. It is followed by the text of the Latin Vulgate.

They found MARIE and Ioseph, and the infant laid in the manger. [J-J Tissot]

1. AND it came to passe, in those daies there came forth an Edict from Cæsar Augustus, that the whole world should be enroled.

2. This first enroling was made by the President of Syria Cyrinus.

3. And al went to be enroled, euery one into his owne citie.

4. And Ioseph also went vp from Galilee out of the citie of Nazareth into Iewrie, to the citie of Dauid that is called Beth-lehem: for because he was of the house and familie of Dauid,

5. to be enroled with MARIE his despoused wife that was with child.

6. And it came to passe, when they were there, her daies were fully come that she should be deliuered.

7. And she brought forth her first begotten Sonne, and swadled him in clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was not place for them in the inne.

8. And there were in the same countrie shepheards watching, and keeping the night watches ouer their flock.

9. And behold, an Angel of our Lord stood beside them, and the brightnes of God did shine round about them, and they feared with a great feare.

10. And the Angel said to them: Feare not; for behold I euangelize to you great ioy, that shal be to al the people:

11. because this day is borne to you a SAVIOUR which is Christ our Lord, in this citie of Dauid.

12. And this shal be a signe to you; You shal find the infant swadled in clothes, and laid in a manger.

13. And sodenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heauenly armie, praising God, and saying,

14. Glorie in the highest to God: and in earth peace to men of good wil.

15. And it came to passe, after the Angels departed from them into Heauen, the shepheards spake one to an other: Let vs goe ouer to Bethlehem, and let vs see this Word that is done, which our Lord hath shewed to vs.

16. And they came with speed; and they found MARIE and Ioseph, and the infant laid in the manger.

17. And seeing it, they vnderstood of the Word that had been spoken to them concerning this child.

18. And al that heard, did maruel; and concerning those things that were reported to them by the shepheards.

19. But MARIE kept al these words, conferring them in her hart.

20. And the shepheards returned, glorifying and praysing God in al things that they had heard, and seen, as it was said to them.

Notes

4. Iewrie. Jewry. The region or province of Judea in ancient Rome; (also sometimes more generally) the land of ancient Israel or Judah. 1526   Bible (Tyndale) John vii. f. cxxixv   Iesus went about in Galile, and wolde not goo about in iewry. [OED]

5. despoused. From despouse: To promise in marriage, to betroth; to give or take in marriage, to marry; = espouse. [OED]

14. men of good wil. The birth of Chrift giueth not peace of minde or faluation but to fuch as be of good Will, becaufe he worketh not our good againft our willes,but our willes concurring. Aug. queft. ad Simplic. Li. i.q.2. to. 4.

19. Kept al.  Our Lady though litle be fpoken of her concerning fuch matters in the Scriptures, becaufe fhe was a woman, and not admitted to teach or difpute in publike of high myfteries : yet fhe knew al thefe myfteries , and wifely noted and contemplated of al thofe things that were done and faid about Chrift , from the firft houre of his Conception til the end of his life and his Afcenfion.

Latin Vulgate

[1] Factum est autem in diebus illis, exiit edictum a Caesare Augusto ut describeretur universus orbis. 

[2] Haec descriptio prima facta est a praeside Syriae Cyrino : 

[3] et ibant omnes ut profiterentur singuli in suam civitatem. 

[4] Ascendit autem et Joseph a Galilaea de civitate Nazareth in Judaeam, in civitatem David, quae vocatur Bethlehem : eo quod esset de domo et familia David, 

[5] ut profiteretur cum Maria desponsata sibi uxore praegnante.

[6] Factum est autem, cum essent ibi, impleti sunt dies ut pareret. 

[7] Et peperit filium suum primogenitum, et pannis eum involvit, et reclinavit eum in praesepio : quia non erat eis locus in diversorio. 

[8] Et pastores erant in regione eadem vigilantes, et custodientes vigilias noctis super gregem suum.

[9] Et ecce angelus Domini stetit juxta illos, et claritas Dei circumfulsit illos, et timuerunt timore magno. 

[10] Et dixit illis angelus : Nolite timere : ecce enim evangelizo vobis gaudium magnum, quod erit omni populo :

[11] quia natus est vobis hodie Salvator, qui est Christus Dominus, in civitate David. 

[12] Et hoc vobis signum : invenietis infantem pannis involutum, et positum in praesepio. 

[13] Et subito facta est cum angelo multitudo militiae caelestis laudantium Deum, et dicentium : 

[14] Gloria in altissimis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. 

[15] Et factum est, ut discesserunt ab eis angeli in caelum : pastores loquebantur ad invicem : Transeamus usque Bethlehem, et videamus hoc verbum, quod factum est, quod Dominus ostendit nobis.

[16] Et venerunt festinantes : et invenerunt Mariam, et Joseph, et infantem positum in praesepio. 

[17] Videntes autem cognoverunt de verbo, quod dictum erat illis de puero hoc. 

[18] Et omnes qui audierunt, mirati sunt : et de his quae dicta erant a pastoribus ad ipsos. 

[19] Maria autem conservabat omnia verba haec, conferens in corde suo. 

[20] Et reversi sunt pastores glorificantes et laudantes Deum in omnibus quae audierant et viderant, sicut dictum est ad illos.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

In Conceptione Immaculata Beatæ Mariæ Virginis

Our Lady of Lourdes. Crowned in 1876 by Pius IX.
"Que soy era immaculada Concepciou." 

Today is the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

"We declare, pronounce, and define that the doctrine which holds that the most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin, is a doctrine revealed by God and therefore to be believed firmly and constantly by all the faithful." 

Pope Pius IX issued the Papal Bull “Ineffabilis Deus” in 1854.

MEMORARE, O piissima Virgo Maria, non esse auditum a sæculo, quemquam ad tua currentem præsidia, tua implorantem auxilia, tua petentem suffragia, esse derelictum. Ego tali animatus confidentia, ad te, Virgo Virginum, Mater, curro, ad te venio, coram te gemens peccator assisto. Noli, Mater Verbi, verba mea despicere; sed audi propitia et exaudi. Amen.

REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

I am attaching to this post a study of St Robert Southwell's poem, St Peter's Complaynt which I offer to our Blessed Mother on this her feast day. Here is a link to the PDF followed by an extract from the Dedication:

👉     St Peter's Complaynt pdf

     "In this poem, St Robert Southwell explores Peter’s sin and infidelity, together with their terrible effects on Peter and on the victims of his sin. Peter’s detestation of his sin leads him to a strict examination of conscience, heartfelt contrition, a deeply-felt yearning for forgiveness and a sincere purpose of amendment. 
     Southwell’s artistry and the depth of his spiritual insight have produced a striking piece of poetry as well as a profound prayer. The underlying notions of sin and repentance formed the motivation and inspiration for this study which analyses the ideas and language of the poem. 
     After the proof-reading version of this edition had been printed, I noticed that the number of pages was one hundred and fifty-three. This tallies exactly with the number of fishes caught in the miraculous draught:

     “Jesus saith to them: Bring hither of the fishes which you have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, one hundred and fifty-three.” [John xxi. 10-11]

     It also tallies with the number of times the Ave Maria (Hail Mary) is said in the full recitation of the Rosary. I hope this remarkable ‘coincidence’ betokens a favourable reception for this little work.
 

     With fervent prayers for the intercession of St Peter and St Robert Southwell, this little work is offered as a gift to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on her feast day, begging that she ask her Son to show His mercy to the repentant sinner and to heal the victims of his sins."

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

In memoriam matris meæ dilectissimæ

On 30 November 1977, on the feast of St Andrew, patron saint of her native Scotland, my dear mother passed away after a long battle with cancer. The local priest had administered the last rites some time previously. Although she had seemed barely conscious, I could see her lips moving slightly after he had invited her to join him in saying one ''Hail Mary'' . She received Holy Communion and she seemed then to be very much at peace. The priest, a serious, taciturn but tender-hearted man, noted that this was often the case.

Requiescas in pace, mater dilectissima!

Three poems

I was living in Cambridge during this sad time in 1977. For no particular reason that I can recall, I felt prompted to make the train journey across country to pay a visit to my mother in north Warwickshire. I prepared the following poem en route, not knowing that my mother would depart this world only a matter of days after my arrival. She was sitting near the fireside when I arrived, nursing a hot water bottle. I read my poem to her and I could see that she was listening intently. When I had finished, she said: 'Well, how lovely!' She then retired to her bedroom and never left her bed again before her death some days later.

Kirsty bheag is the Scots Gaelic for 'little Kirsty'. She was called 'little' to distinguish her from her mother, who was also called Kirsty. I completed the pen and ink drawing of the boat (21cm x 21cm) several years later and named it 'Kirsty' in honour of my mother. RIP.

Kirsty Bheag

Kirsty. PB

Alone sate she in soft and muted shade,
A fairy child of woodland ferns and flowers,
A slender sylph from Spring's most sacred glade,
A smiling sprite of silent, scented bowers.

Her careless hair was gold as sun-gold corn,
In breeze-blessed streams and tresses lightly flowing;
Her eyes were the smiling blue of a sky-blue morn,
Her cheeks with cheerest roses ever-glowing.

Withal a shape so supple, slim and svelte
As like a willow-sapling's lithely grace;
A light and happy spirit therein dwelt,
Whose dancing smiles did play upon her face.

Upon her lap an open book she lay,
Whose lines she scanned with fond and eager gaze;
Then 'loud the alien words she 'gan to say,
In heart to grave for all her mortal days.

Alone sate she, this darling Highland child,
In woods, in fields, by many a mountain stream;
But now in time long-lived to old age mild,
Of these her girlhood joys she doth but dream.

Envoi

Learn friends, this fairest She, she is no other
Than my own dear, beloved mother.
 © PB 1977


My mother was to suffer enormously from cancer before she died on the 30th November. As someone born in the Scottish Highlands, it was altogether fitting that she should have passed on the Feast of St Andrew. I wrote 'Curse' mindful of the echoing metre used by the witches in the "Scottish play."

Curse

Burn in Brimni's blazing bane,
Die in cruel and crazing pane!

Slowly burning, slowly maiming,
Never easing, never resting,
Bitter raw with deadly fest'ring;
Vicious jaws within thee gnawing,
Biting, ripping, tearing, savage,
These thy entrails hotly ravage.

Burn in Brimni's blazing bane,
Die in cruel and crazing pain!
© PB 1977



In this same year, my mother had already lost her first-born son (aged 44) and her favourite brother. This triple loss inspired the following lines.

This Weeping Year

This weeping year,
This year of ache and pain;
This heart-sore year,
This year with sorrow stain'd.

O woeful year,
Unweary of thy ever-wearing woes;
Black-visaged year,
Unyielding midst thy yield of deadly throes.

The Fates, they three,
This fated year of three,
Death-fated three
And dealt three fatally.

© PB 1977

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

The Feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

Today is the anniversary of my Baptism, which took place when I was three weeks old, on Friday the 27th of November 1953, the feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, in the church of St Theresa of the Child Jesus (Perry Bar, Birmingham). I discovered this very late in life and, Deo volente, I shall never cease to thank Almighty God for everything He did to make this possible on His Mother's feast day and in a church dedicated to Ste Thérèse de l’Enfant Jésus. 

Laudetur Jesus Christus et Maria Immaculata!

The Traditional Rite of Baptism

See here for a PDF showing the powerful words and actions that the Church included in the traditional rite of Baptism before the tragic excisions and alterations that followed in the wake of the Second Vatican Council.

The story of the Miraculous Medal

The following text is reproduced from The Miraculous Medal Shrine website:

"It’s very tiny, barely an inch long and half-inch wide. There’s nothing elaborate or stunning about it. It’s not even made out of silver or gold. How can something so small and simple be such a momentous force in the world? And yet, it is."

THE APPARITIONS

It began on the night of July 18, 1830, when a beautiful child, dressed in white and emanating heavenly light, awakened a young Daughter of Charity novice, Catherine Labouré (1806-1876), from her sleep. She followed him to the Chapel, where all the candles were lit, as if for midnight Mass. After hearing something that sounded like the rustling of a silk dress, Catherine saw a beautiful woman walk in and sit on the chair used by the director of the community. She remarked, “I went closer and, throwing myself on my knees, rested my hands on the knees of the Blessed Virgin. At that instant, I tasted the sweetest joy of my life—a delight beyond expression.”

The next time Mary appeared on November 27, 1830, she was standing on the world with her feet crushing the head of a serpent, with a “globe in her hands. Her eyes were lifted up to Heaven, and her countenance was radiant as she offered the globe to Our Lord.” Then, Catherine saw that Mary had rings of precious stones on her fingers. Rays of light beamed from the stones, enveloping Mary “in such a dazzling light that I could see neither her feet nor the robe. …It is beyond my power to give an idea of the beauty and magnificence of the rays.”

During this apparition, Mary told her that the rays symbolize the graces that she bestows to all who ask for them. The stones that shed no light represent the graces that people forget to ask for. Then an oval appeared around the Blessed Mother, with the words:

Ô Marie, conçue sans péché, priez pour nous qui avons recours à vous.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. 

Catherine heard the words, “Get a medal struck after this model. Those who wear it when it is blessed will receive great graces, especially if they wear it about the neck. Graces will be abundant for those who have confidence.” Then the image turned, and Catherine saw the letter M, intersected at the top with a cross and a bar. Underneath were the hearts of Jesus and Mary with twelve stars surrounding the entire image.

THE MEDALS

When Catherine Labouré told her spiritual director, Fr. Jean-Marie Aladel, CM, about what she had seen and heard, he wanted to take every precaution to ensure that the apparitions were authentic. It wasn’t until he spoke to the Archbishop of Paris and received his approval that Medals were made. This task was initially entrusted to Adrien-Jean-Maximilien Vachette, one of the official jewelers of Louis XVIII’s court, in June of 1832. He started by producing two thousand Medals.

The Daughters of Charity began wearing them and giving them to the elderly and sick. Almost immediately, miraculous healings, cures, and conversions occurred; people began clamoring for the Medal of the Immaculate Conception (as it was originally called). The Medal quickly spread throughout France and then the world. Before long, people were calling it the Miraculous Medal; everyone wanted the Medal that Mary had brought from Heaven. Not only did the Archbishop of Paris request some of the first Medals, Pope Gregory XVI put one at the foot of the crucifix on his desk; and the founder of the Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (in the United States) put the image of the Miraculous Medal on his ordination card.

The demand for the Medals became so great that between 1832 and 1836, Vachette made more than two million of them. There were eleven other engravers in Paris producing Medals, as well.

Indeed, the Medal is a condensed catechism on Mary. On it we see her as the woman who crushes the serpent’s head in Genesis (iii. 15) and the woman clothed with the sun in Revelation (xii.1). We see the Hearts of Jesus and Mary united at the Cross. The wording confirming Mary’s purity circles around her, and the rays from her hands depict her as the dispenser of God’s graces. So it wasn’t a surprise when on December 8, 1854, the dogma of the Immaculate Conception was officially defined by the Church.

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.