As I looked at the latest revision of the bumf for the meetings at Allen Hall, I spotted a proposal for a clergy-and-families Mass and lunch. I mentioned this to Pam, who of course instantly gave me a crisp and accurate wifely definition of our joint attitude to the idea of struggling into London in early May for a clerical bunfight.
She went on, as wives so commonly do, to make a very good point. "Why couldn't they have organised an Ordinariate outing to the Cheltenham Races?" Why, indeed. After all, we are supposed, are we not, to be turning into proper Catholics? And is it, or is it not, true that proper Catholic clergy spend at Race Meetings all the time they can salvage from golf and cards? What better Formation could there have been for our new life than spending S Patrick's day imbibing the pure Spirit of Catholicity among the clergy of the Archdiocese of Dublin as they wager their meagre stipends on the Cheltenham horseflesh? The Ordinary himself could have tested the intercessory powers of our Lady of Walsingham and Bl John Henry Newman by betting the entire combined financial resources of the Ordinariate on a promising outsider.
Not that it would be a patch on watching the horses kicking up the sand as they race along the strand at Cahirciveen, with Ballicarbery Castle as the backdrop, in the knowledge that the lobsters are queuing up to jump into the saucepan at the Smugglers. How I do miss Ireland. Well, not Ireland so much as County Kerry. Well, not so much Co Kerry as the Iveragh peninsular. I wonder if Bill Murphy has any empty presbyteries. Sancte Patrici, Sancte Brendane, orate pro nobis.
A blessed St Patrick's Day to you Father and thank you for the recent series on VII, which was most thought-provoking. Please keep the Church here in Ireland in your prayers.
ReplyDeleteShane.
Well, whatever about the cards and the gee-gees Father, I do recommend the golf. And if your good lady could be persuaded in that direction also, you could have many shared hours all’aria fresca.
ReplyDeleteContrary to what a certain philistine American writer said, it can be “a good walk, enhanced…” – if you don’t take it too seriously. Also, I understand there are a few courses to be found in Co. Kerry.
Wouldn't St. Patrick's C of I Cathedral in Dublin make a grand Ordinariate cathedral for all the Irish Anglicans joining us on the road to the Tiber Bridge?
ReplyDeleteSure and the C of I Protestants would still have Christ Church so everyone would be happy.
Now that's Patrimony, I say. Another round of Jamieson anyone?
I've got to go for Nigel Twiston-Davies' "Imperial Commander" in the big one tomorrow ...
ReplyDeleteHope you survived your journey to Manchester Father.
ReplyDelete