Issue 1 March 2016 400th Anniversary Edition

Pontifical Newsletter

In this issue: Rector’s Welcome - Rector’s Welcome Fr. Daniel Fitzpatrick Father Daniel Fitzpatrick on the

newsletter and the 400th anniversary. I am delighted to be able to introduce the inaugural edition of the - Ogilvie and the Oath new newsletter of the Pontifical Scots College in . It is Second year Joe McGill reflects on the important for us to be able to keep in touch with the many people at saint who inspired a seminary. home in Scotland, and elsewhere, whose prayers and support for the - Clement VIII: College Founder College allow it to continue to play its important role in forming and Baptizer of the Coffee Bean priests for the dioceses of Scotland. We know that not everyone is able to follow all that happens here using the new technology of our Second year Christopher Doig considers website and social media, so we hope that this newsletter will allow the influence our founding Pontiff had those of you who prefer paper to the screen to feel very much part of on the Church in Scotland. this little part of Scotland out here in the city of the Apostles. - The Call to Priesthood I would like to thank all those whose hard work and dedication have Third year Ryan Black tells us about his helped produce this newsletter. They have worked hard to help give vocation story so far. our readers an insight into what we do here in the College and to the - ‘Vale’ wider interests and activities of our seminarians. I hope that you find Fourth year Andrew McGowan something to interest you and give you a sense of the life of the seminary. writes a poem. For many years the College has been able to welcome many visitors - In the Footsteps of Saint James from parish groups and pilgrimages to families and friends of our Fifth year Emmet O’Dowd talks about a seminarians. Whatever your connection with the College, I invite recently completed pilgrimage. you to take a moment to remember us in your prayers as we celebrate 400 years of priestly formation this year.

Father Daniel Fitzpatrick is a priest of the Diocese of Paisley. He was appointed as Rector of the Pontifical Scots College St. John Ogilvie, pray for us! by in 2015 Portrait of St. John Ogilvie, ,

Log on to our new website, which was launched on 16th November 2015, the Feast of Queen Saint Margaret of Scotland: www.scotscollege.org Ogilvie and the Oath Joe McGill, Philosophy II

In the year 1616, on 10th March, house (an advocate of parliament sixteen students took the and secret Catholic), he became missionary oath to return to famous for his devotion to the Scotland as secular priests. They duties of his vocation, comforting had been given three months by and encouraging Catholics and Pope Paul V (formerly the first making converts. Cardinal-Protector of the College) to take the oath or leave the A few months later, in late August, College. This move was made as it Ogilvie began working in became clear that Scotland would Glasgow as well, and found great not return to the church of its own success there, rebuilding a accord and that priests were Catholic congregation in Clement VIII: College Founder needed to bring the faith to the Renfrewshire. This he continued people. to do until he was arrested on 4th and baptizer of the coffee bean October 1614 in Glasgow. After This request by the Holy Father Christopher Doig, Philosophy II had originally been met with some months of trials and torture, reluctance; it was the first during which he never gave up the Clement VIII is an important figure in the history of the identities of secret Catholics, he Scottish Church. During the Reformation, when Catholics anniversary of John Ogilvie’s were heavily persecuted, and many were driven out of their martyrdom that inspired the men was finally martyred at Glasgow Cross on 10th March 1615. country, some clergy had made their way to Rome and to devote themselves completely pleaded with the Pope for a place where young Scots could to the Scottish Mission as priests. be educated. A group of Scottish Jesuits, who were already This great saint has had a This purpose began then and has present in Rome, supported this request and Pope Clement profound effect on the history of remained in the College now for finally agreed to it. The Papal Bull was written on 5th the Scots College in Rome, and four hundred years. December 1600 and the Scots College eventually was opened his example continues to inspire in 1602. For the past number of years we have had the This saint who inspires still today the seminarians in the eternal city, privilege of celebrating Mass in a private chapel of St Mary over four hundred years after his even four hundred years after his Major’s Basilica where our founder’s tomb is located. death played an immeasurable role Clement VIII is also well known for welcoming the coffee in the College’s history. Who was bean into the Christian West. His advisors were hoping it this man whom we celebrate here would be banned because it had been brought by the in Rome, along with the Church in Muslims, with whom they had been at war, so they called it the ‘drink of the devil’. The Roman Pontiff, intrigued by this Scotland, on 10th March? exotic drink, demanded to try it before making a decision. John Ogilvie was born around He delighted in this wonderfully stimulating beverage and 1579 in Drum-na-Keith to a said, “This devil’s drink is delicious. We should cheat the devil by baptising it.” Thus it was given his blessing and then Calvinist family, but while spread throughout the Christian world. studying in Louvain was received into the Church in 1597. In the Today coffee has become probably one of the most popular years following, St. John Ogilvie drinks in the West and it is an integral part of the life of a joined the and Scottish seminarian. Without it, studying philosophy and was ordained a priest in in Ogilvie stained glass window theology would be almost impossible; it would be like 1610. at the College climbing up a steep mountain without taking any water. martyrdom. Remember, the next time you are sipping your dark brew, In the autumn of 1613, St. John say in your heart ‘Deo Gratias!’ and thank Pope Clement Ogilvie was sent back to Scotland John Ogilvie is Scotland’s most VIII as well. to “reconcile as many as possible recent saint, but it is our hope and to the .” Little is prayer here in Rome that he is not known of the first six months of the last! his ministry around Scotland, however he did travel to London in February 1614 and most likely met with James VI concerning a political project to aid the King’s relations with the courts of Europe. This was not as unlikely as it seems at first, as the King had dealings with other Jesuits in the past (his wife had been converted to Catholicism by Fr. Abercromby S.J. in 1600). Following this escapade, his superiors sent Ogilvie back to Scotland and it is his work from then on that we know best. Making his base in Pope Clement VIII 1592-1605 Edinburgh at William Sinclair’s Ogilvie Coat of Arms (Ippolito Aldobrandini )

Pontifical Scots College Via Cassia 481, Rome [email protected] The Call to Priesthood Vale Ryan Black, Theology I by Andrew MacGowan, Theology II There are a few questions that every seminarian will be asked at least a When lightening crack whips up a dozen times during his time in seminary. One of them is, “Isn’t it squall, wonderful living in Rome?”, and While every person who prays for another is, “What made you decide welcome quicksand waves enthral, the community is a benefactor, it to go to seminary?”. a walk across the windy lake, seems appropriate to mention in particular The Scots College While the answer to the first exhausts the tempest, glass to make. Society. The members are former question changes depending on how close to exams the seminarians are, students of the College who wish or how hot the Eternal City is in to support the current community June, the answer to the second Would weakness from such energy in a variety of practical ways. question never really changes. Many of the members are not spent priests, and when the Society had I grew up in a Catholic family. My its 100th meeting at the College in brother and I were never given the break your will and cause relent? 2013 , a number of the members’ opportunity to think about whether wives joined us for the festivities. going to Mass was a good thing – Your icy back having turned my way; our parents decided that for us. endless night of darkest day! If you are a former student of the Every week, whether we liked it or Pontifical Scots College in not, we would head to the church Rome or would like to know more and sit in the back pews (like all about the Society, you can contact good Catholics do). Like many Why punish me for Petrine treason? boys, I became an altar server after the President: I had received my First Holy I am not rock. I too had reason. Communion, and from that time I Monsignor Christopher McElroy was always involved in some way Why string me up with Judas noosed? c/o St. Andrew’s Cathedral House or another. I wouldn’t say that the Bound is bound? Loosed is loosed? 90 Dunlop Street local church was a ‘home from Glasgow home’, but I knew growing up that G1 4ER the Church would always be a part Tel: 0141 204 2409. of my life. In fact, my plan was always to graduate from university, Eventually, I was aware that I the exams and the Roman get married, move to Hong Kong, was very unhappy. My ‘work’ heat). raise a family and become a deacon. as a DJ and radio presenter had I left high school with good grades never been better, and my and got into university, studying a social life was fairly typical of Master’s Degree in Naval someone who had all the Architecture with Ocean money of a university student Engineering. The plan was coming who lived at home. However, together nicely. something was missing. I had a nagging feeling. The I should mention here that I had best way that I can describe never believed in the idea of ‘the what others refer to as ‘the Although there were many call’. As far as I was concerned, the call’ is to say that eventually factors in my vocation story, many good and holy priests whom I the nagging feeling became so including my trip to South had met had all decided to become obvious that I felt that I would Africa and my upbringing in a priests in much the same way as I have been actively ignoring it A gift from one of our benefactors: had decided not to become one. if I hadn’t done something good home, above all the most about it. important was prayer. I never Our Lady holding the child Jesus That changed in 2011. During my I spoke to my parish priest used to pray much, but it is second year at university, I travelled about the feeling that I might essential to get used to going to South Africa with my parish want to become a priest. He to Confession on a regular Benefactors priest and some other young referred me to the Diocesan parishioners. We went with the Vocations Director, who basis. It is also extremely As we celebrate our 400th intention of establishing a helped me in the applicants’ important to get used to anniversary of Priestly relationship between our own process. I was able to keep praying in front of the Blessed parish and poorer parishes there. To Formation at the Scots working, but I had become Sacrament. How can we know do so effectively, we decided to stay certain that my future was not College this year, we give a what God is saying to us if we with two priests in a small rural as a naval architect. I left special thanks to all our town near Johannesburg. Basically, university, which was not easy, won’t talk or listen to Him? benefactors, both living and we shadowed these men as they and continued to pray about dead. We give thanks to them ministered to four different what God was calling me to communities in the surrounding be. I was accepted for every day after lunch, and area. I returned from South Africa seminary in early 2013, and Mass on a Wednesday is having had an amazing and three years, later I could not be offered for those who have humbling experience. Fairly happier (even if sometimes my been so kind and generous to quickly, I began to resent the idea family and friends have to of going to university every day. listen to my complaining about the college. stands out: the Basilica of Our I had the great pleasure and In the Footsteps of Saint James Lady of the Pillar, in Zaragoza. privilege of meeting so many Emmet O’Dowd, Theology III This magnificent church is built wonderful pilgrims and locals on the site of what is said to be along the Way and having so the first church ever to be many wonderful experiences that Why follow the Camino to dedicated to Our Lady. Local I would never be able to recount Santiago de Compostela in tradition tells that Our Lady them all here. This was my first Galicia in north-western ? appeared at this spot to St. James pilgrimage to the tomb of St. himself during his original efforts James and it will stay with me This past summer as luck, or to evangelise this part of Spain. forever, but God willing it won’t rather providence would have it, be my last. Although next time, I I was fortunate enough to find From Logroño we travelled might just follow in St. James' out what all the fuss is about. quickly stopping briefly in the footsteps, rather than cycle over After a retreat in the Monastery cities and staying in the smaller them. of Montserrat, near Barcelona, I towns further along the Way. We had just enough time to follow saw the great cathedrals of the Camino from there to Burgos and Leon, and cycled Santiago before I had to return to through vineyards which seminary for the start of the stretched for hundreds of miles. academic year. It is said that you We struggled up the mountain to should start your Camino on the Cruz de Ferro, the highest your own doorstep. Now since point along the Way and were my doorstep for that particular glad of the views and the rest at week happened to be on the the top. front door of Montserrat, it Way as far as Logroño. On this seemed only right to begin my route I only met five other On the second last day, we Camino there and to get my first pilgrims following the Camino. entered rained-soaked Galicia, stamp in my Credencial, or As I travelled along, I soon whose architecture and climate pilgrim passport, from the became accustomed to looking made us feel like we had been monks. out for the two things essential to transported to some remote a successful Camino. The little corner of Scotland or Ireland. It Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, My route from Montserrat to yellow arrows which point the was as if we were being Zaragoza Santiago was nearly 750 miles way to Santiago and the reintroduced to our weather in long, and I only had three weeks albergues. The arrows are order to prepare us for going to get there. In addition to that, I common sights along the Way, home, for the end was now in only had five days to get from and it is amazing how quickly you sight. On the following day, in the Montserrat to Logroño, some late evening of the 14th of become dependent on them. “Small gestures of love, of 300 miles away. This was because The albergues were very September, we arrived in I had arranged to meet up with common too, and they were also Santiago de Compostela and tenderness, of care, make some friends there who were basic and very cheap. So quiet glimpsed the great cathedral people feel that the Lord is following the French Way. We which houses the final resting was the Catalan Way that I was with us. This is how the planned to go on together from often the only pilgrim staying in place of the Apostle St. James. Logroño to Santiago. All of this the Albergues. Once I arrived in door of mercy opens.” meant that the traditional way of In Santiago we went first to the Logroño all of that changed. I Pope Francis travelling on foot was out of the met up with my friends and Pilgrim's Office to collect our question and so I decided to use encountered many of the other ‘Compostela’ and then to the @ Pontifex another acceptable option, and, if Cathedral for Mass and to pilgrims who followed this most I'm honest, my favourite mode of popular of routes. venerate the relics of St. James in transport—my bicycle! thanksgiving for a successful The Way between Montserrat pilgrimage. Before we knew it, we As I set out from Montserrat, I and Logroño is dotted with quiet were boarding the plane to go cycled along the much quieter little towns and beautiful home. Camí de Sant Jaumeor Catalan churches, but one in particular Forthcoming Events + Prayer Intentions + +We pray for the men from the college who will be ordained March 18-24th Holy Week Retreat on 1st May as deacons: Paul Denney, Bernard Mournian and April Fri 8th Charity Quiz Night (Mary’s Meals) Jonathan Whitworth. 11th-14th Episcopal Visitation +We pray for the men who will be ordained this summer as Thu 14th Mass with Institution of Lectors priests: Rev. Matthew Carlin and Rev. Jamie McMorrin. May Sun 1st Diaconate Ordinations +We pray for the benefactors of the Scots College, living and Sun 15th Candidacy Mass dead. May God bless those who have been good to us for His June Fri 24th Priestly Ordination of Rev. Jamie McMorrin sake. Thu 30th Priestly Ordination of Rev. Matthew Carlin +We pray for Andrew McGowan as he prepares for his marathon on Sunday 10th April in order to raise money for St Margaret’s Hospice in Clydebank.