Yes! I was there too and in esteemed company! Mulier Fortis, Fr Ray Blake, Fr John Zuhlsdorf of WTDPRS fame and many other Catho-bloggers turned up to Fr Tim's Jubilee Mass. It was superb, a beautiful Mass and incredible grub with a choir singing polyphony. I sneaked a desert into Fr Richard Biggerstaff's car on the way home and had to have a peppermint tea when I returned to Brighton to soothe the stomach ache. It was a night of indulgence on two counts since I believe I was in receipt of a plenary indulgence by merit of the fact I attended Mass at this Jubilee. Thanks be to God! I don't know why, but it has something, I think, to do with the fact it is the Year for Priests. What a year it is for some of these wonderful priests God has given us who are celebrating 25 years since their ordination! We are truly blessed to have these Priests.
I was glad to see there were more gladioli than you could shake a stick at in the splendidly large, white tent erected to house all the attendees. Look, there's me in the tweed jacket talking to a very charming and fine man called Matthew who has just got married. I believe this was the point when I discovered he was a musician, teaching and playing piano. "Oh," I said, "You're a proper musician!" He was lovely and what is more, is a little Brother of the Oratory in London. So we had a good chat about that. Look! The tall priest is Rev Dr Alcuin Reid of liturgical splendour fame! Everyone there was very effusive about Fr Tim. He is well-loved by his parish and deservedly so. He made a cracking speech afterwards and raised a toast to the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, who he rightly pointed out as the man who has made the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass not just a possibility, but something to be encouraged to the Church. Congratulations once more, Fr Tim. May your ministry continue to fruit, flower and blossom for many years to come!
It was great to see you, if only briefly, and my one regret is that I didn't manage to talk to everyone I wanted to catch up with!!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you had tummy ache... I hope that wasn't a reflection on the catering!?
;-P
No, catering was fantastic! Eyes bigger than my belly!
ReplyDelete