Contra Mundum Volume V, Issue 3 October 2002

So far so good! But having said all NOTES that, Fr. Edwards contradicts himself. The problem, he says, “can only be FROM THE solved by a return to the Anglican Way.....” The plain fact of the matter is that CHAPLAIN Anglicanism was defective from the OR those with an eye for the outset. The English Reformation was F summer’s religion news apart an act of state, and the compromise from the Catholic Church and her character of the subsequent Elizabe- scandals, there was a keen sense of than settlement meant that it did not Episcopal Church deja-vu in the re- (and ultimately could not) produce a movals of Fathers Samuel Edwards coherent and thought-out system. in May and David Moyer in early What can be said for the Church of September. Having also gone up England is that it was the response against a liberal Episcopal Church of Christians to acts of state, and in bishop in defence of my flock, I can this respect as a church it drew upon sympathize with both of these friends catholic and protestant thought in order to justify its own position. and their families. But of course there THE FEAST OF ALL SAINTS is this sad difference: to date it seems Thursday, November 1, 2002 Fr. Edwards went on to specify his Fr. Moyer is determined to remain 7:00pm idea of the return to the Anglican in the communion of the Episcopal Procession, Solemn Mass and Way: “a church which has no faith Church (by way of a liberal bishop Sermon of its own—only the catholic Scrip- in Pittsburgh who has taken him in) Saint Theresa Convent Chapel tures, the catholic Creeds, the catho- and Fr. Edwards has declared for the Holy Day of Obligation lic Sacraments, and the catholic min- “continuing” Anglican Church istry.” But catholic according to movement. whom? And when did the Anglican In an address to the twenty-fifth Way ever agree on these things? After the Episcopal Church, in anniversary gathering of the “Con- 1976, voted to ordain women priests, gress of Saint Louis” (The 1977 Call it what they will, the “con- I made it clear to my current and sub- meeting was attended by both David tinuing” Anglicans attempt to build sequent parishes that not only did I Burt and me) Fr. Edwards did indeed a coherent theological position upon continue to be opposed, but that I come right to the point of what has a foundation that never did carry any- would not have sought ordination in happened. He said, “We have begun thing so consistent. This is why the the Episcopal Church after 1976. I to recognize that Anglicanism in the Anglican Use of the Roman Rite is think I even said this on the floor of end, is an ideology—a substitute the way forward. It alone brings back one diocesan convention. Both Fr. faith—which like all ‘isms,’ ends by to its source in the Catholic Church Moyer and Fr. Edwards were or- destroying what it most pretends to all of the admirable Anglican contri- dained after the General Convention revere. The problem with the con- butions in literature and music, lit- decision that year, And therein lies tinuation of Anglicanism, then, is that urgy, devotion, scholarship, social the tale. it is a continuation of the problem.” work, and charity. Page 12 Contra Mundum

I want to quote from a tract we gram during the coming year. Please 0385029039), and John Henry Car- give to prospective members and be generous. dinal Newman: Apologia pro Vita visitors to the Anglican Use. Al- Saint Luke’s Day is Friday, Octo- Sua. (W.W. Norton & Company; though adapted for our own use, the ber 18th. A noon Mass will be cel- ISBN: 0393097668) The plan is to tract was originally developed for the ebrated in the Convent Chapel. read one historical book, one doctri- Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Ar- nal book, one spiritual classic, and a The Anglican Use pastors plan to lington, Texas. book on vocation and evangelism. meet in Houston in late October. The fourth book has not yet been “We have come to believe that the Father Bradford expects to attend the chosen. present disarray of Anglicanism is, meeting. in itself, clear evidence of the need The annual parish retreat will be for a defined focus of authority in the February 14-16, 2003 at St. Benedict life of the Church on earth, and that Abbey in Still River. Retreat con- ON PRAYER such a magisterium is, by Divine ductor is Fr. Carleton Jones, OP. N the great intercessory prayer of Providence, to be found in the per- Christ found in John's Gospel, af- son of Peter and his successors in the Fr. Peter Stravinskas has written I ter he has recommended his disciples Holy See....We give great thanks to a book of daily meditations for the to His Father's care, our Lord Jesus God for all that we have received for Advent Season. Soft cover 75pp. then prays these petitions, these par- good in the loveliness of the Angli- $7.95. Advent Meditations. Helps to ticular askings he puts up for His dis- can liturgical and pastoral tradition, ‘Wait in Joyful Hope’ may be ob- ciples, and we eavesdrop as it were; and we long to bring all that is best tained from Newman House Press, we get to listen in on the prayer. in it to the life of the Universal 21 Fairview Avenue., Mt. Pocono, PA Church. But, as Anglicanism itself 18344. Fr. Stravinskas was our par- The example of Christ is always decays around us, we have come to ish retreat conductor in 2001. crucial, in everything, and nowhere feel that it can best and most safely We welcomed Fr. Francis A. Nave more so than the example of His be preserved within the household of to our Sunday Mass on September prayers. We want our prayers to be the Roman Catholic Church.” 15th. He is director of vocations for answered by Almighty God. Who would pray otherwise? So we learn For its 450 years the Anglican the Diocese of Allentown and a to ask for what Christ asks. What Church has never had a single theo- friend of parishioner Joe Blake. Fr. Christ asks pleases the Father. Ask logical orthodoxy. Its patrimony re- Nave is interested in the Anglican what He asks and our Heavenly Fa- quires the confirmation and the cor- Use. ther will give it. rection that comes in accepting the Adult Christian Education is framework of the Catholic Church. again starting up. We will be read- So here is our instruction: Christ asks for spiritual blessings; He does FATHER BRADFORD ing four books during the year. The first book is The Panther and the not pray that we might make a bundle Hind by Aidan Nichols, O.P. (T&T of money or get a better paying job. SHORT NOTES Clark Ltd; ISBN: 0567292320) This He does pray for three things here: Thanks to Fr. Joseph F. Wilson for is a study of Anglicanism from a 1. That we might be kept from coming to Boston to celebrate the Catholic perspective. Aidan Nichols sin. Sunday Mass on September 1st. Fr. is an English Dominican who is very 2. That we be furnished with what Wilson will be the keynote speaker favorable toward the Anglican Use, we need to do our job. and is a good friend of our occasional at the annual conference sponsored 3. That we be brought safely to visitor from Britain, Richard Lawes. by The Wanderer at the beginning of heaven. November. We will be discussing two chapters every other week. Other books we It is the prosperity of the soul that The parish will conduct an Every intend to read this year are St. is Christ's focus, for that is why He Member Canvass during October for Therese of Lisieux: The Story of a came and died for us. And in his the support of the Anglican Use pro- Soul, (Image Books; ISBN: prayer here He teaches us that same Contra Mundum Page 13 focus and concern, both for ourselves That is the promise of the Gospel of monished the people to “avoid mor- and for others in our prayers: the Jesus Christ. tal sin by frequenting the sacra- health of the soul. This sermon was preached by Father ments.” Reprinted from MAGNIFICAT, AUGUST, 2000 Volume 4, issue No. 6, Page Prayer is an essential part of Bradford on Sunday, May 13, 1994. 366 With permission of MAGNIFICAT® USA, LLC, Dunwoodie - 201 Semi- nary Avenue, Yonkers, New York 10704 or Web site: www.magnificat.net. Christian living. If a Christian All rights reserved. doesn't pray, he becomes spiritually THE BRITISH If all the good things in this world moribund. Prayer is the breath of a were offered me to renounce, all Christian, and if I don't breathe I die. MARTYRS should not move me one hair’s It is because we don't make an effort VER the years 200 men and breadth from my Roman Catholic to get even a very short time away women have been beatified faith. from the ratrace in order to be alone O for their heroic witness to the Catho- SAINT DAVID LEWIS with God that we find the things lic Faith in the British Isles during which we have to do, the things we and after the Protestant Reformation. SAINT RICHARD GWIN (WHITE) have to bear, and the temptations we Here we continue brief mention of Layman and Martyr (1537-1584) have to meet, seem five times as dif- some of these individual martyrs. ficult as they are. We spend a great Saint Richard was a Welsh Prot- deal of time making mountains out SAINT DAVID LEWIS estant and schoolmaster. He com- of mole hills. Yet our blessed Lord pleted his studies at Cambridge and Priest, Religious, and Martyr says it is faith which removes moun- acquired a reputation as a scholar. (1616-1679) tains. And faith finds one of its im- Richard returned to Wales and began portant expressions in prayer. Father David Lewis, a Jesuit, min- to teach school. Upon marrying a istered for over thirty years to the virtuous lady named Catherine, they Last week I looked out on a nar- persecuted Catholics of his native became parents of six children. He row but fast moving river. There Wales. Such was his generosity that renounced the Protestant faith cou- were danger signs on the bank. No he was known as “father of the poor.” swimming. Dangerous current. In November 1678, he was arrested rageously to profess and practice the Tempted to get quickly to the other in Llantarnam by British soldiers as Catholic faith. On his conversion to side, one would be swept far out to he was on his way to say Mass. At Catholicism Richard became the first sea, for the river emptied at that place his trial, the judge declared Father victim of Queen Elizabeth’s cam- into the ocean. Lewis’ administration of the sacra- paign to persecute Catholics. Ar- When you come to pray you are ments as reason enough to convict rested and imprisoned, he was of- putting yourself into the midst of a him of treason: “It is enough that you fered his liberty if he would conform. great stream and volume of prayer have exercised the functions of a He was arrested, imprisoned, and and loving worship which goes up priest in copes and vestments used tried for the eighth time in 1584. before God from the whole company in your Church, that you have read When his wife appeared in court with [celebrated] Mass, taken [heard] con- of heaven and from the church on their baby she was also threatened. fessions, given absolutions, married, earth all over the world. Prayer car- and christened... He that celebrates Both Richard and his wife displayed ries us along to where we want to be, Mass commits treason.” At his ex- courage and humor in responding to where we ought to be, and where ecution, Father Lewis boldly con- threats and accusations. Richard was Christ ascended to prepare for us to fessed his identity as a Catholic, a executed for treason on October 15, be. priest, and a Jesuit, grateful for his 1584. He was hanged, cut down And when we pray for what vocation: “I bless God who first while still living, and his abdomen Christ wants to give us, the Angels called me.” He also declared that he was cut open. In his agony he cried rejoice and the Holy Ghost gladdens could not do otherwise than to for- out “Jesus have mercy on me!” He and strengthens our hearts, filling us give his enemies, explaining, “I pro- was then beheaded and his body cut with grace, and our heavenly Father fess myself a child of the Gospel, and into quarters. His captivity poems the Gospel I obey.” Finally he ad- gives His children what they need. called upon his countrymen to pre- Page 14 Contra Mundum

serve the Catholic faith. He is con- Third, do it. And then let go of it. sidered to be the first martyr of Wales Don’t stew about it. Get on with life and is patron of large families. and other important things. Adapted from MAGNIFICAT, August, 1999 Issue No. 11, Page 329 and Fourth, thank God for what you October, 2000 Issue No. 23, Page 257 With permission of MAGNIFICAT® USA, LLC, Dunwoodie - 201 Seminary Avenue, Yonkers, New York 10704 or Web site: www.magnificat.net. All rights reserved. have and what you are able to give. “O how glorious our faith is! In- Fifth, pray to God for continuing stead of restricting hearts, as the grace in order that you may grow in world fancies, it uplifts them and all areas of your spiritual life, includ- enlarges their capacity to love, to ing growth as a steward. live, with an almost infinite love, If you can’t buy the tithe as your since it will continue unbroken be- standard, say, ‘Lord, I can’t accept yond our mortal life.” it. Forgive me. Help me to grow. THERESE OF LISIEX Take my mustard seed of faith and nourish me so I’ll grow into the full JUST WHAT IS THIS stature that I know you have in mind TITHE ANYWAY? click off. ‘I can’t do it. It’s too much.’ for me. I want the real me to emerge Relax, turn the switches back on. more and more, Lord, and I need Adapted from an article by The Start where you are. Figure out your help. Rev’d James Crowder what your income really is and take And then thank God. And let go 10% of that and then say, ‘How much of it. And get on with life. HAT IS THE ‘modern tithe’ can I move?’ Theologically, the The issue isn’t wealth or pov- W we hear about? It’s 5% to the question is: ‘What will faith permit?’ erty— how much you have or don’t Church and 5% to charity. It’s $1 a Enjoy what you give. Enjoy it and have. The issue is who is at the cen- week for every $1,000 in annual in- feel good about it and know God for- ter of your life? As Christians, we come. So if you make $1,000 a year, gives and gives us grace to grow and believe God is, and we want all in you give $1 a week times 52 weeks, that He’s not through with you or me our life to conform to that belief So or $52, as an annual pledge to the yet! the tithe is ‘good news.’ church and $52 to charity. $52 plus Some people jump into doing a $52 equals $104, which is 10% of tithe all at once. It fits their person- $1,000 plus a little bit to be gener- ality. They’re kind of like St. Paul— ABIDING IN THE ous. impulsive! I’m less dramatic. I’m WORD OF CHRIST plodding. I get there by stages. So The tithe is the ‘minimum stan- Jesus therefore said to the Jews dard’ for Christian giving. It’s where the first step is to accept the tithe as the standard. I embrace it. who had come to believe in him, ‘If a Christian wants to wind up when you abide in my word, you shall be he/she is really a steward. It’s where Second, target some movement in my disciples indeed, and you shall a Catholic wants to be. It answers the giving. Know that your goal is a know the truth, and the truth shall question everyone asks when he/she moving target as your income goes make you free.’ In our affairs, be- thinks about giving: ‘How much up or down. If you retire, stock divi- loved, we have great need of perse- should I give? What’s the standard?’ dends are cut, your house burns down verance. And perseverance is the The tithe is the official teaching uninsured, you have less income. fruit when doctrines become deeply of the Catholic Church. It’s con- Reduce your pledge. If your bounty rooted in us. For no wind by its as- tained and enshrined in Holy Scrip- increases, your target goes up, too. saults is able to uproot the oak which ture. It is unassailable. Then you Target a movement in whatever in- has sent its roots down into the depths may ask, ‘All at once?’ That’s heard crement you can—if it’s a dime a of the earth and has become firmly as bad news, and the mental switches week or $1, $10, $100. imbedded there.... Contra Mundum Page 15

The Congregation of Saint Athanasius, The Revd. Richard Sterling Bradford, Chaplain

worshiping at Saint Theresa Convent Chapel 10 St. Theresa Ave. West Roxbury, Mass. THE COMMEMORATION OF ALL THE FAITHFUL Rectory: 192 Foster Street, DEPARTED Brighton, MA 02135-4620 SOLEMN REQUIEM MASS 10:00AM St Theresa Convent Chapel Tel/Fax: (617) 787-0553 Included with this newsletter is an Intercession List for names of de- Web: http://www.locutor.net parted souls to be remembered on All Souls’ Day. Gently pull this sheet loose and mail or bring it to the Church by Sunday, October 27. Sundays 10:30am. Sung Mass, fol- lowed by coffee and fellowship in the “Lay this body anywhere, only this I beg, that you remember me at convent solarium. Adult Christian the altar of the Lord.” Education two Sundays a month. ST. MONICA

The words, ‘If you abide in my etousness is evil ever attain to a word,’ were those of One who was greater good? How will he who does revealing what was in their hearts and not refrain from the things of the who knew that, on the one hand, they earth ever obtain the possession of had believed, but, on the other, they the things of heaven? It is good to did not persevere in faith. Moreover, take by violence—not perishable He was making an important prom- things—but the kingdom of heaven! ise to them—that they should bcome The violent seize it by force,’ says His disciples. For since some had the Scriptures. It is not possible, defected from him earlier [John then, to obtain possession of it by 6:66], He was referring to them when sloth, but by exerting effort. He said, ‘If you abide,’ because they Let us, then, steal the kingdom of also had heard Him and come to be- heaven, for in this case plundering lieve, but had gone away, since they incurs no fault, but not to plunder is did not persevere in their belief .... a fault. In this case our wealth does I exhort you, let us use every not cause another’s loss. Let us strive means so that our life will be virtu- to plunder it. If anger bothers us, or We return to Easter Standard Time ous, our minds cleansed, and noth- evil desire, let us do violence to our on Sunday, October 27th at 2:00 am. ing ignoble hinder us. Kindle the nature, let us become more gentle, Please set your clocks BACK one light of knowledge in yourselves and let us toil for a little while, that we hour before going to bed Saturday do not sow among thorns. For how may rest forever.” night. shall one who doesn’t know that cov- —JOHN CHRYSOSTOM Page 16 Contra Mundum St. Theresa Church and Convent Chapel, West Roxbury, MA 02132 Pine Lodge Road (off St. Theresa Avenue) Park either in the church parking lot or on Pine Lodge Road. The side door of the convent is open during the time of our services. Directions by Car: From the North: Route 128 to Route 109, which becomes Spring Street in West Roxbury. Spring Street ends at a traffic light at Centre Strect in sight of the church. At this light bear left onto Centre St. and immediately turn right at the next light onto St. Theresa Ave. From the South: Route 1 north through Dedham to Spring Street. Turn right onto Spring Street then follow the directions above. From Dorchester and Mattapan: Cummins Highway to Belgrade Avenue to Centre Street left on St. Theresa Ave. From Boston: VFW Parkway to LaGrange Street. Turn left onto LaGrange Street, crossing Centre Street and turn right onto Landseer Street. Turn left into the church parking lot. Directions by Public Transponation: Orange line to Forest Hills terminal. Bus to West Roxbury. #35 bus to Dedham Mall. #36, #37, and #38 also stop at St. Theresa’s. Commuter train to West Roxhury Station is a short walk to St. Theresa’s. Departs from South Station, but no Sunday service is available.

Contra Mundum The Congregation of St. Athanasius 10 St. Theresa Avenue West Roxbury, MA 02132