Oxford LMS Pilgrimage

Last Saturday the Latin Mass Society held its annual Oxford Pilgrimage. This year it commemorated Bl.George Napier, or Napper, a local man, born in the city in 1550, who suffered martyrdom at Oxford Castle for being a priest on November 9th 1610. He was beatified in 1929. The account of his life from the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia can be read at Ven. George Napper

We had a Solemn Mass in the traditional Dominican Rite celebrated in the church at Blackfriars. It was rather a pity that the numbers were not, I think, as good as in previous years for this rare occasion to see the Dominican liturgy being celebrated. This is a form of Mass with close similarities to the Use of Sarum, and certainly would have been celebrated in medieval English Dominican houses. I know some regular attenders had other commitments, but such an event should draw in new recruits if the ideals of the LMS are to be diffused more widely.

The Chairman of the LMS was not only organising and singing as part of the schola but was also busy photographing the Mass and the other events of the day.

Images: Joseph Shaw on Flickr

His complete set of pictures are available on Flickr at:

Oxford LMS Pilgrimage 2014

After a break for lunch we reassembled at Carfax with a processional cross, a statue of Our Lady of Walsingham and the Banner of the LMS to go to the remains of the castle and the site of Bl. George's imprisonment and martyrdom. As we went along through the Saturday afternoon shoppers we sang the Great Litany. At the plaque, itself unveiled on a previous Pilgrimage in 2010 by Archbishop Longley, marking the site of the martyrdom, we sang the Te Deum.

On the way back from the castle along Worcester Street (negotiating the roadworks as we went along) we sang Faith of Our Fathers and the Song of the English Zouaves ("Aniraa mia, anima mia, Ama Dio e tira via.") from the 1860s. As this is less well known I have retrieved the text from the Internet and will reproduce it:

Saint George and old England for ever!
Once more her sons arm for the fight,
With the cross on their breasts, to do battle
For God, Holy Church, and the right.
Twine your swords with the palm branch, brave comrades,
For as Pilgrims we march forth to-day ; —
Love God, O my soul, love Him only,
And then with light heart go thy way.

We come from the blue shores of England,
From the mountains of Scotia we come.
From the green, faithful island of Erin, —
Far, far, from our wild northern home.
Place Saint Andrew's red cross in your bonnets.
Saint Patrick's green shamrock display ; —
Love God, O my soul, love Him only.
And then with light heart go thy way.

Dishonour our swords shall not tarnish.
We draw them for Rome and the Pope ;
Victors still, whether living or dying.
For the Martyr's bright crown is our hope ;
If 'tis sweet for our country to perish.
Sweeter far for the cause of to-day ; —
Love God, my soul, love Him only.
And then with light heart go thy way.

Though the odds be against us, what matter ?
While God and Our Lady look down.
And the Saints of our country are near us.
And Angels are holding the crown.
March, march to the combat and fear not,
A light round our weapons will play ; —
Love God, O my soul, love Him only,
And then with light heart go thy way.

From Joseph Powell Two Years in the Pontifical Zouaves 1871

Note: I do not know why this speaks of St Andrew's cross as red - red for martyrdom of course, but the saltire is normally depicted white.

We sang the Litany of Loretto as we processed along Beaumont Street past the Ashmolean and so back to Blackfriars for Benediction.

Image: Joseph Shaw on Flickr

LMS Pilgrimage Mass and Procession in Oxford

On Saturday I attended the Latin Mass Society's Oxford Pilgrimage, with a Solemn High Mass at Blackfriars in the traditional Dominican Rite, and, in the afternoon, a procession to the site of the martyrdom of Bl.George Napier in Oxford Castle and Benediction, again at Blackfriars.

Dr Joe Shaw, the Chairman of the LMS has now posted on his blog two reports about the day, complete with fine sets of photographs. The first covers the Mass and can be viewed at Oxford Pilgrimage 2012. The photographs show very well the beauty of the Dominican liturgy, which is very similar to the Use of Sarum. The second report covers the procession and Benediction, and can be seen at Oxford Pilgrimage: Procession and Benediction. Those readers who know me should be able to spot me in at least one photograph of the procession.

Here is one of the photographs of the Mass, showing the elevation of the chalice:

Image:LMS Chairman blog

There is also a report from two years ago of the Pilgrimage Mass, also celebrated in Blackfriars, but on that occasion in the Extraordinary Form, and in the presence of the Archbishop of Birmingham. I am partly (but only partly) including the link out of vanity (sic) as I appear as thurifer in some of the pictures - you have been warned... The article can be seen at LMS Pilgrimage to Oxford 2010.

 

 

Commemorating Bl.George Napier

Today at the Oxford Oratory, and in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, we have commemorated the feast day of Bl.George Napier, an Oxford born mission priest who was martyred here in the castle on November 9th 1610.

Last year I posted Bl. George Napier 1610 - 2010 about his life to mark the quartercentenary of his death, and this LMS Oxford Pilgrimage report about how the anniversary was marked by a pilgrimage and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque by the Archbishop.

This evening at Brothers of the Oratory Fr Jerome took us through Bishop Challoner's account of the capture, trial and last days of Bl.George. It shows in considerable and often strange detail life in prison as a condemned priest, as well as the embarrassment and sympathy of many of those involved in his detention and death. If you have access to a copy of Challoner I would recommend the account to you. I do not know if it is online - if not making the whole text of the Bishop's work available would be a worthwhile project to undertake.

Masses in the Extraordinary Form in Oxford and the West Midlands

There will, according to the Oxford LMS blog, be Masses in the Extraordinary Form in the period from October to December in the Oxford area as follows:

Every Sunday
8am (Low Mass) Oxford Oratory

Every Wednesday
6pm (Low Mass) SS Gregory & Augustine

Every Thursday
9am (Low Mass) St Anthony of Padua

Every Saturday
9.30am (Low Mass) St Birinus, Dorchester on Thames

Every First Friday
6pm (usually Sung) SS Gregory & Augustine

Mass times given below are now complete and confirmed.

Friday October 1st, 6pm Low Mass: SS Gregory & Augustine (First Friday)

Thursday October 7th, 6pm Low Mass: SS Gregory & Augustine (First Thursday)

Friday October 22nd, 6pm: Solemn Mass, Oxford Oratory

Opening Mass of 40 Hours Devotion

Oxford Pilgrimage, Saturday October 23rd
Solemn Mass in the presence of His Grace the Archbishop of Birmingham
11.30am Blackfriars
2pm Procession from Cornmarket to the site of the execution of Bl George Napier at Oxford Castle, where Archbishop Longley will bless a plaque
3pm: Benediction, Blackfriars

Saturday October 30th, 4pm (note unusual time): Sung Requiem,
St Birinus, Dorchester on Thames

Monday November 1st, All Saints: 12.15pm Low Mass Oxford Oratory

Tuesday November 2nd, All Souls
12.15pm Low Mass Oxford Oratory
6pm Sung Mass SS Gregory & Augustine

Thursday November 4th, 6pm Low Mass (First Thursday): SS Gregory & Augustine

Friday November 5th, Solemn Requiem, Oxford Oratory
Feast of the Holy Relics: 6pm Low Mass SS Gregory & Augustine

Saturday November 13th, 11.30, Sung Mass: St Didacus
Church of St Anthony of Padua, Headington

Saturday November 20th, 11.30am, Sung Mass, St Felix of Valois
Chapel of Mapledurham House, near Reading, RG4 7TR

Thursday December 2nd, 6pm Low Mass (First Thursday): SS Gregory & Augustine

Friday December 3rd, 6pm Low Mass SS Gregory & Augustine (First Friday)

Saturday December 4th, 11.30am Votive Mass of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Milton Manor House, near Abingdon, OX 14 4EN

Milton Manor was the last home of Bishop Challoner, who died there, and the house has a fine chapel in the Gothick style.

Masses in the West Midlands from November to January are listed on Matthew Doyle's Birmingham LMS blog here.