Shocking

Ella and James Preece are a Catholic couple living in Kingston Upon Hull in Yorkshire in the UK. This is our blog.

Blogged by James Preece on 23rd June 2008

So, once again I find myself. Mass at Holy Cross Cottingham. Oh no! Not a blog entry about Cottingham! James! Don't do it!

It was First Communion at Holy Cross and it took two hours. Two Hours! Doesn't Fr Pat know that mass is supposed to be One Hour!?!?!!? If it's a normal mass you pad it out with hymns and a long homily to make it take an hour. If there's a lot to do you rush it to make it fit in the hour. It's the Rules. The mass lasts 1/24th of the day and if mass were supposed to take longer than an hour then God would have put the earth further from the Sun.

In case you missed that one, I was being sarcastic or ironic or something. I don't think mass should take exactly an hour. It should take as long as it takes. Fr Pat is right to take the extra time to make sure these children's First Communion is a big deal.

But James... I don't get it. I thought you didn't like Fr Pat?

Er... Did I say that? What I said is that I disagree with some of the things he does. If you can't tell the difference between disagreeing with some of what a person does and disliking a person then I don't like you.

This Item Tagged With:

Reader Comments

Ella said...

I certainly did not mind it being 2hrs - the time flew by and Fr Pat certainly made the day special for the children and made that extra effort to help the relatives who had visited (and spoke no english) to know the important things he was saying in the homily.

It is good to take the time to make the important things, well, important

DAwn said...

Aww it's not as funny when you have to point out the obvious, that your being sarcastic. tut.

James said...

Welcome to my world...

Phillip Buchan said...

You may remember me, I am not too sure though as it has been a while.

Just like to draw your attention to a Saint who ignored the rule that you give about mass been 1/24 of the day. His name is St Pio better known as Pardre Pio you might have heard of him especially coming from Hull.

The masses that he did, drew in crowds that you would only see at a Premiership football match for daily mass not just Sundays, lasted on average 5 hours and masses in other countries could go on for hours. I refer you to the mass in Africa they do not last 1 hour only. There was an African Mass here at my own Cathedral in Northampton and 3 hours were set aside for that mass.

I would check your sources of information before you write them down as one of these occasions you might get taken down with a libel suit. Just a word of caution for you.

James said...

Hi Phillip,

Good to hear from you.

I think you misunderstood me, my point was exactly as you say, that "Fr Pat is right to take the extra time to make sure these children's First Communion is a big deal.

To the Blessed Virgin Prayer for England

O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon England thy "Dowry" and upon us all who greatly hope and trust in thee.

By thee it was that Jesus our Saviour and our hope was given unto the world; and He has given thee to us that we might hope still more.

Plead for us thy children, whom thou didst receive and accept at the foot of the cross.

O sorrowful Mother! intercede for our separated brethren, that with us in the one true fold they may be united to the supreme Shepherd, the Vicar of thy Son.

Pray for us all, dear Mother, that by faith fruitful in good works we may all deserve to see and praise God, together with thee, in our heavenly home.

Amen.

Couple's Prayer

O God, our heavenly Father, protect and bless us. Deepen and strengthen our love for each other day by day.

Grant that by thy mercy, neither of us may ever say one unkind word to the other. Forgive and correct our faults, and make us constantly to forgive one another should one of us unconsciously hurt the other.

Make us and keep us sound and well in body, alert in mind, tender in heart, and devout in spirit. O Lord, grant us each to rise to the other's best. Then, we pray thee, add to our common life such virtues as only thou canst give.

And so, O Father, consecrate our life and love completely to thy worship, and to the service of all about us, especially those whom thou hast appointed us to serve, that we may always stand before thee in happiness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.