Symbolism and preparation for the Westminster installation

Following on from my recent post about the inauguration Mass for Archbishop Moth’s ministry at Westminster Cathedral I have now found an online video about the preparations for the day, and in particular about many of the items used. These include more images and more information about the amethyst cope morse, the crosier and the chalice used for the celebration of the Mass, and the symbolism of the altar and the Archiepiscopal throne, the cathedra which gives the name of cathedral to every episcopal church. 

As I said in my previous post, and as this video stresses much more emphatically, they all stress the inherent unity of the Catholic Church from the Apostolic Age onwards, and its inherent unity, despite so much upheaval and suffering from just after the chalice was made to the calmer times of the restoration of the Hierarchy and the building of Westminster Cathedral, in England.

The video can be viewed at From Crozier to Cathedra: The Installation of Westminster’s 12th Archbishop

The evolution of Ash Wednesday

The New Liturgical Movement has an excellent article today about the evolution and development of the historic liturgy of Ash Wednesday from the time of St Gregory the Great. It also has a useful note about the development of processions on certain other feast days, although Ash Wednesday lost this particular element in the later medieval period.

The article can be accessed at Liturgical Notes on Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday and T.S.Eliot

Today being Ash Wednesday seems a very good occasion on which to share an article from the Daily Telegraph by Christopher Howse. In it he writes about T.S. Eliot’s set of six poems, written in 1927 and published as “Ash Wednesday” in 1930. It is often seen as Eliot’s “conversion” piece, written when he became an Anglo-Catholic. As the article points out many critics in 1930 missed many of the liturgical allusions in the text, let alone how many would miss them today, which is a depressing commentary on the state of our society.

The text of the poem can be found online, and there are a number of online videos about it. 

Howse’s article can be read at Sacred Mysteries: The churchgoers’ secret to T S Eliot’s ‘Ash Wednesday’

Shrove Tuesday

Today is Shrove Tuesday, a day which in addition to its place in the liturgical calendar has acquired over the centuries both in Britain and Europe a wide selection of customs and practices. Some, such as the consumption of foods not officially sanctioned in Lent in pancakes might be deemed para-liturgical. Others such as barely controlled and rowdy football and related games were an opportunity for the young men and boys of a village to let off steam before Lenten sobriety took over.

Many of these have doubtless been completely lost as demographic change took place, but, happily, some still survive. I wrote about these, drawing upon and linking to previous posts, last year in Shrovetide celebrations

I have not seen anything new about these old traditions this year, but I did come upon a video from the always excellent and well researched Tasting History series from 2020 about the history of pancakes. It involves a recipe from 1658 for cooking them. It can be viewed at The Wonderful History of Pancakes.

The Installation Mass of the Archbishop of Westminster

Two days ago, Westminster Cathedral witnessed the Installation Mass of the new Archbishop of Westminster.

I do regret the contemporary choice of terminology - a canon of a cathedral is installed by the being physically placed into his stall in the cathedral choir, a bishop or archbishop is enthroned by being placed into his throne. That is a central part of the ceremony which is involved in such an occasion. Words have a meaning, and the meaning is patently clear.

It is, no doubt, a sign of the times that such a service is not broadcast by national television, as was that for the consecration and installation of Basil Hume in 1976. However, modern technology does mean that institutions can produce their own videos and this has been done by Westminster Cathedral. This full length coverage of the liturgy and ceremonies can be seen at THE INSTALLATION OF THE 12TH ARCHBISHOP OF WESTMINSTER : Mass 12 noon Westminster Cathedral

The Zenit website has a report about the events, and includes interesting details about the form of the service, the vestments and the principal chalice used by the Archbishop - all of which link to the pre-reformation era. Although the article does not mention it the spectacular amethyst encrusted morse worn by the Archbishop to fasten his cope is part of the nineteenth century heritage of the Archdiocese. I think it is normally on display in the Cathedral Treasury.

The illustrated article can be seen at This is how the inauguration of the new Catholic Archbishop of Westminster went

Let us pray for the new Archbishop in the discharge of his office and responsibilities.

The Spire Project

Another friend sent me today this online article from Psephizo about the virtue-signalling Church Commissioners Spire Project for slave trade reparations.

Anyone who follows the news will be aware that this scheme has attracted a lot of grass roots criticism both for its effect on the funding of the Church of England at national and, more particularly, at parish level, and because of the secrecy which has surrounded the decision-making process. This week these matters were being raised in the General Synod, with the Bishop of Salisbury, as Deputy Chairman of the Church Commissioners trying to bat them away whilst giving no new information.

The whole project is indicative of the woke state of mind of the leadership of the CofE these days under its ‘Most Reverend Mother in God’ [sic], the one-time national District Nurse.

The very basis of the whole scheme is effectively deconstructed - not least in demonstrable historical errors - in a set of linked pieces in the article I was sent, and which can be seen at The problems with the C of E’s ‘reparations’ project (‘Spire’)

Restoring the Palace of Westminster

A friend shared with me an incisive and provocative article about the ‘Restoration and Renewal’ project for the Palace of Westminster. Written by Nicholas Boys Smith and published online by The Critic it can be read at Call for the King | Nicholas Boys Smith | The Critic Magazine

Well worth looking at.

British Museum secures Tudor locket

Art Net and the BBC News website reported the good news this morning that the British Museum has raised the funds to acquire for the nation the gold heart-shaped locket which celebrates the then seemingly happy marriage of King HenryVIII and Queen Katherine of Aragon. Thought to date from 1518, and to have been a commemorative piece from a jousting contest, the locket and chain were found by a metal detector in 2019.

 

The BBC News article is longer and more detailed with some excellent detailed images. It can be seen at British Museum to keep pendant linked to Henry VIII after campaign

The Art Net illustrated article about this rare survival, with its insights into the court culture of the early years of the reign, can be seen at British Museum Raises $4.8 Million to Snag Rare Tudor Pendant

The articles list some of the prominent contributors to the purchase fund, but it is significant that there were so many private contributors - 45,000 - like myself who gave small donations to save the locket.