AND SO ENDS THIS BLOG..........

Because of a new venture I am taking up I have decided that I must give up some activities in my life. My daily viewts, about 70, will have noticed that I am becoming more and more interested in Mary Stuart, the Queen of Scotland. When I was in my twenties I had friends who shared my view that she was a saint and martyr. As time passed on my interest in her diminshed and I had little time in my life as the father of six boys on a modest income to keep it going. When Christine Grahame the Scottish MP made a proposal to move the body of Mary Stuart back to Scotland my interest was stirred again. I am now planning a website devoted to her cause. The history that most people read on Mary follow the lead of those with are either of an anti-catholic leaning or are very Pro-Elizabethan The English and Scottish historians are read but not the French biographers. Agnes Strickland was the first to criticise Elizabeth but this made her very unpopular indeed and her book quikly went out of print. But she points to sources that can be traced. What I need badly is an historian who can help me. He or she will come. I am now setting up the website www.marythemartyr.co.uk. If you have an interest then look in to the site in about a weeks time. My site the Conversion of England will continue - it is quite fascinating what I am findout out.

The Cause of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots.

During the whole process of her trial and execution, Mary acted with magnificent courage worthy of her noble character and queenly rank. There can be no question that she died with the charity and magnanimity of a martyr; as also that her execution was due, on the part of her enemies, to hatred of the Faith. Pope Benedict XIV gives it as his opinion that on these two heads no requisite seems wanting for a formal declaration of martyrdom, if only the charges connected with the names of Darnley and Bothwell could be entirely eliminated ("Opera omnia", Prato, 1840, III, c.xiii, s. 10).

We know from Agnes Strickland and French Biographers that Mary moved Darnley to Kirk o`Fields to nurse him from the Small Pox. She splent months at his side, nursing and caring for him. We know of the Ainsley Bodn in which even her half brother Moray was implicated to kill Darnley and let Bothwell rule. On Bothwell we have her letter to the Pope of the day asking him to intervene and dissolve this marriage which was against her will. Darnley and Bothwell can be completely eliiminated.

Adult Faith: What the Pope said at Vespers on feast of St Peter and Paul.

The words "adult faith" in recent decades have formed a widespread slogan. It is often meant in the sense of the attitude of those who no longer listen to the Church and her Pastors but autonomously choose what they want to believe and not to believe hence a do-it-yourself faith. And it is presented as a "courageous" form of self-expression against the Magisterium of the Church. In fact, however, no courage is needed for this because one may always be certain of public applause. Rather, courage is needed to adhere to the Church's faith, even if this contradicts the "logic" of the contemporary world. This is the non-conformism of faith which Paul calls an "adult faith". It is the faith that he desires. On the other hand, he describes chasing the winds and trends of the time as infantile.

The `Missa Recitata`. or Dialogue Mass.

Exploring an old Missal I have just come across the `Missa Recitata`. Now I must confess that this is something I never knew about before and about which I believe that many Traditional Catholics should know a great deal more since it was introduced by Pope Pius X. My missal tells me that in the early Church it was custom for the people to join in with the Altar Server in amking the responses and this was a custom which had ceased by the end of the sixteenth century. St Pius X made a strong plea for active lay participation in the liturgy. But it was left to bishops to decide for their dioceses so it seems to have sunk to oblivioon. Yet even the saintly Pius recognised what the bishops had called for at Vataican II, greater lay pareticipation in the Mass. What the committee commisioned to carry out reform did would of course have broken the heart of St Pius X. But yes, there is still a call for greater lay participation in the Tridentine Mass. And those who use the Traditional Mass should be aware of the call of St Pius X and the call of Pope Benedict to helpl him towards reform. We seem to have a stand off position in the Church from both sides. "Not an inch,No surrender". This is unworthy of the People of God and we should be helping the Pope with his reforms.

A Bundle of Beauty

One of the great consolations of older people is to have grandchildren. I am doubly thankful to God for this little lady Rebecca. After six sons and one grandson it seemed there would never be another Kearney girl. Then Rebecca arrived. At last I have someone in the family who loves to sing and entertain people. She goes to Ballet and tap and enjoys showing me what she has learned so far. She is a sweet, loving and beautiful child. I am sure the world will hear from Rebecca one day - she is so talented at her early age. Thank you God, for this wonderful gift.

Westminster Abbey: a place to worsip God or to fleece the tourists?.

I visited Westminster Abbey earlier this year. A man at the entrance demanded £12 each for me and my wife. At the end of my visit I felt I had be been robbed. It was just a museum of dead bodies. From the crypt bodies had been brought upstairs and placed at every convenient spot. There was Lord and Lady `something` and Lord and Lady `something else`. 98 percent of the bodies meant nothing to anyone but there were the few. The tyrant Oliver Cromwell had a place in a chapel. I eventually found the chapel of Our Lady. I knew it was the chapel of Our Lady because I managed to squeeze past the tombs of Mary Queen of Scots and Queen Elizabeth I which took up all the space. There was no sight of Our Lady. I decided that if I had an ancestor there I would be making plans to have them removed. I am already making up my mind to have Mary Stuart Queen of Scots moved back to Scotland, or perhaps the Chappel of St Andrew in the Cathedral That was a great idea from Christine Crahame the Scottish MP. The Abbey claim they keep her there to fulfill the wish of her son. But Mary wanted to go back to France. She certainly did not want to lie beside her murderer, Elizabeth. Now the powers at the Abbey have decided on a fresh projecto. To let tourists go to the places above the Abbey where they can display some beautiful artefacts. Just throw a few of the tombs out and they would have plenty room. Then they plan to make some kind of crown above the the Abbey to show its relationship with the monarchs of England. No doubt there will be an extra charge of £12 or so to go up there by elevator. Of course a restaurant will have to be provided so that meals can be available for those who decide to spend the day there. Probably American Tourists. It is all very shabby and disgraceful. The ABbey was built to give glory to God, and only God. The Abbey authorities are turning it into a den of thieves.

A little girl in Rome receiving her First Holy Communion

This little girl received Jesus for the first time on the Feast of St Peter znd Paul. She kneels to receive Jesus not as a piece of food to be chewed, digested, then disappear but as someone to welcome into her heart to make a lasting abode there and to love and be loved. This is a very personal relationship with Jesus and everything was done to make her feel that this was indeed a very special day.