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High Mass for 2017

August 29, 2017, 12:49 am
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Chaplains leading the Vigil Service. 



Not all the members were sitting in the congregation!

Conf. and Cons. David and Teresa O'Neill.



We offered Mass in the Traditional Form. 
A Votive Mass of Our Lady of Ransom,
a wonderful title,
also known as Our Lady of Mercy.
The Blessed Virgin appeared in 1218 in separate visions to St. Peter Nolasco, St. Raymond of Penafort and James, king of Aragon, asking them to found a religious order dedicated to freeing Christian captives from the barbarous Saracens or Moors, who at the time held a great part of Spain. On August 10, 1218, King James established the royal, military and religious Order of our Lady of Ransom (first known as the Order of St. Eulalia, now known as the Mercedarian Order), with the members granted the privilege of wearing his own arms on their breast. Most of the members were knights, and while the clerics recited the divine office in the commanderies, they guarded the coasts and delivered prisoners. This pious work spread everywhere and produced heroes of charity who collected alms for the ransom of Christians, and often gave themselves up in exchange for Christian prisoners. This feast, kept only by the Order, was extended to the whole Church by Innocent XII in the 17th century.

There exists in England today a Guild of Our Lady of Ransom. Its mission is three-fold:

1. The Conversion of England and Wales.
    “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations”, Matthew 28:19.
2. The restoration of the lapsed.
      “Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord God, 
        and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?” Ezekiel 18:23
3. Prayer for the forgotten dead.
    “It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, 
that they may be loosed from sins.” 


The Grand Prior and the Priory were very pleased to be able to welcome to Mass 
the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, Col. Alan Jolley and his wife, Mary.

Introibo ad altare Dei.

Confiteor.

Oremus.

Mass was celebrated by Chaplain, Fr Willaim Charlton
assisted by Chaplain Fr Mark Lawler 
and Canon Gwenaël Cristofoli, ICKSP, 
from the Shrine of St Walburge's in Preston.

Fr Lawler chants the Epistle.
Thanks to MC Mr Louis Sanzey, 
and also to the other altar servers who assisted so ably.


 
The Chaplain General Preaches the homily.


 
members in their mantles and the ladies in mantillas as well.

 Exuent omnes at the conclusion of the Mass.


 Conf. Brian Williamson is promoted to Chevalier.

Fr William Charlton is promoted to Senior Chaplain.

 Fr Mark Lawler is made a Commander of Merit.

Conf. Andrew McDermott is promoted to Serving Brother.

 Thanks to Chev. Anthony Dickinson for arranging the wonderful music
and to Mr David-Scott Thomas at the organ.
The Mass setting was a striking one,
Missa Secunda in B flat ‘In honorem Sancta Caeciliae' 
- Fr Joseph Egbert Turner 1853 - 97.



Luncheon was served in the splendid setting of Farington Lodge,
conveniently just next door to the church.

 Vice Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, Col. Alan Jolley proposes the Loyal Toast.

The Grand Prior, the Baron of Fetternear, 
makes the vote of thanks in his usual inimitable style.


 

 
Some of the members in church after Mass

 
And finally, no event would be complete without our Hospitaller, 
Chev. William Hackett,
who was also made a Commander of Merit this year.









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Fauré's Requiem

October 4, 2017, 3:34 am
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The Grand Priory of Great Britain 
will celebrate it's annual Mass 
offered for the souls of deceased members, benefactors and friends on 

Saturday 18th November at 11.30am

in the

  Church of St Thomas and the English Martyrs

Garstang Road, Preston.

Further details to follow.

There is a fine pipe organ at the  church and we are very pleased that 
Mr David Scott-Thomas will accompany the Octavius Choir in providing

 Faurés Requiem 

as the Mass setting.
It will be Solemn Mass in the Traditional Form.

Our thanks also to the Canons of the Institute of Christ the King 
for allowing welcoming us to their church.
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Mass and Investiture in Brussels

November 3, 2017, 5:15 am
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The High Altar in the church of St Nicholas.

 Brussels was the setting for the annual meeting of the Chapter of the Governing Council this year, hosted by the Grand Priory of Belgium and Luxemburg. Following on from the business meetings, where we heard reports of the great charitable work being done by members of the Order throughout the world, members gathered in the beautiful church of St Nicholas in the heart of Brussels for Holy Mass and the investiture of new members, as well as promotions.


Members gathering in the square to process into church.

The Marshal of the Grand Priory of Brussels 
leads the procession into the church.




Chaplains of the Order from Belgium, France, Spain and Great Britain 
assisted in celebrating the Mass.





Grand Prior of Belgium and Luxemburg, H.E. Damien van Bellingham
addresses the candidates.

A new member of the Order.

A new Chavalier.

 
A promotion.


The Grand Master HE Jan Count Dobrzenský z Dobrzenicz 
and HRH Prince Charles-Philippe d'Orléans.





With thanks to Vincent Vangrunderbeek 
for the splendid photographs.






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Gala Dinner in Brussels

November 4, 2017, 8:20 am
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The Grand Master with members of the Order in the Grand Place, Brussels.

Members making their way to “La Maison du Cygne” on the Grand Place 
for the Gala Dinner following the Investiture Mass in Brussels last weekend.


A cheque is presented to one of the charities supported by the Grand Priory of Belgium.
A reminder that our sparkling evening, whilst hugely enjoyable, also had a charitable purpose in mind. Bringing the members of the Order together to build up our efforts to help others through the many varied charities supported by the Order throughout the world is at the heart of our spiritual purpose. 

Building up Confraternity enables our Charity and builds up our Spirituality.


A few photographs follow giving a flavour of the evening.
As ever, there is a sprinkling of our British members
joining the happy throng!











With thanks to Vincent Vangrunderbeek 
for the splendid photographs.
Used with permission.


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Carol Concert

November 28, 2017, 3:23 am
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Carol 


Concert

Free Entry

Mince pies &mulled wine


St Catherine’s 


Church


Stanifield Lane      Farington    (Next to the park)


 Saturday 16thDecember

7.30pm 


A collection will take place for those

suffering from leprosy 

for Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith's Charity

 - SUROL - 

working in Sri Lanka



       https://surolsrilanka.com/        




The Octavius Choir 

with organist Mr David Scott-Thomas 

have provided us with a superb evening over the last few years with carols, Christmas songs and seasonal presentations, and we are enormously pleased to welcome them back this year, as once again they give their talents to the service of this wonderful charity.















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Requiem Mass 2017

December 20, 2017, 2:32 am
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A little unseasonal, we have just received some photographs of the Requiem Mass for deceased members and friends of the Order which was celebrated in Preston this year. The Canons of the Institute of Christ the King were kind enough to welcome us to their Church of St Thomas of Canterbury and the English Martyrs, a fine church by Edward Welby Pugin.


The Chaplain General, Fr Simon Henry, was assisted by Canon Scott Tanner of the Institute and Fr Leo Daley of the Archdiocese of Liverpool and a team of altar servers drawn from the Institute parishes and St Catherine's Church, Leyland. Many thanks to all those who assisted.


Mass was a particularly beautiful experience in that the musical setting was Fauré's Requiem - performed it in its proper liturgical context, instead of hearing it as a concert piece. Fauré conducted its first outing in 1888 at La Madeleine in Paris. The wonderful singers of "Octavius" did it more than justice, along with David Scott-Thomas at the organ. Truly beautiful. Thanks to one of our most active members, Anthony Dickinson, for organising their taking part. 


 Grand Prior H.E. The Much Honoured Baron of Fetternear and other members taking their place in church, along with Chaplain  Fr William Charlton from Middlesbrough Diocese in choir. Thanks to everyone who came along (and to lunch afterwards in the hall). It was a goodly congregation in such a large church.























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The Grand Master's Christmas Message 2017

December 22, 2017, 11:20 pm
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Boigny Investiture

January 2, 2018, 2:28 am
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 The Grand Priory
The present Chateau.

The Church at Boigny.
After the Christian forces were expelled from the Holy Land, Boigny was the first commandery given to the Order of St Lazarus in France by King Philip IV in 1308. The chateau, church and lands, though no longer in the possession of the Order, still bear those historical links.

Capitular of Orleáns and Grand Capitular of the Order, Philippe Jourdain, explains the battle honours of the Order before Mass.
Two of our British Chaplains, Fr Mark Lawler and Fr Simon Henry, Chaplain to the Grand Magistry, had the privilege of attending the  Investiture Mass at the ancient church in Boigny.






 The Grand Prior in France, Prince Charles-Philippe d'Orléans, duc d'Anjou, 
conducting the Investiture.

Père Claude Girault, Chaplain in Orleáns, was the celebrant of the Mass.






A Luncheon followed, as always in the Order, most convivial.











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Burns' Night 2018

January 6, 2018, 2:13 am
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We are planning to celebrate Burns’ Night again this coming year - for practical reasons, a little after the actual date -
ours will take place on Friday 2nd March
starting at 7.30pm. 

This has been an excellent evening over past years with all the traditional Scottish ceremony and traditions associated with the evening - though you don’t need to be Scots to come along!  
Tickets are just £25 per head 
which is terrific value considering all you get.

The event is to raise Charitable Funds, so come along and support it whilst having a great evening’s fun.

Have a look at last year's festivities by clicking here.


WHAT YOU WILL EXPERIENCE…

Traditional  Piping in o’ the Haggis.
A Tartan sash for each of the Ladies.
 A cocktail on arrival.
Three-course traditional Burns’ Night Fare consisting of:
Scotch Broth
Haggis wi’ Bashit Neeps & Champit Tatties
Pudding of Clootie Dumpling.
Wine with the meal.

  Whisky for the various toasts
 The address to the Haggis
 The Toast to the Lassies
  The Reply from the Lassies
“Entertainments” in song & verse in keeping with the evening. 
Tickets available from Fr Simon Henry at St Catherine's
or via the Secretary, Chev. Anthony Dickinson. 

Everyone welcome.

Dress: - Black Tie and Dinner Jacket - or suit and tie.

Equivalent for Ladies.








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Burns' Night Supper 2018 Photopost

March 24, 2018, 3:03 am
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Thanks to our Piper for the evening - Mr Bob Wilson.

A very well attended Burns' Night Supper took place (a little after the poet's birthday - we take it as a moveable feast) at Leyland in Lancashire (not quite Scotland but far enough North to be well on the way). A very enjoyable evening, raising £600 for the charitable causes of the Grand Priory of Great Britain. Attended by members and friends of the Order, as well as some prospective postulants. Thank you to everyone who came along.

An aperitif on arrival seemed to hit the mark.



The Chancellor with a smile on his face!
What an evening!




 Under the watchful eye of our parish patron - St Catherine Labouré,
particularly appropriate for a French guest.

We are a suave and bohemian lot!






And so to business with the Haggis.

 You need a military man to wield the sword.
That Haggis was not going to escape!








The Secretary for the Grand Priory 
and our music maestro for the evening.


The Piper sneaking a wee dram from the Quaich!


Preparing the for the entertainments.

 A medley of Scottish songs.

All listening intently.

 A little assistance at the keyboard.

I think that's what they call "Gi'en it laldy" 
in the Scottish vernacular!





 A toast to the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns...
and one to the King over the Water...

 Traditionally the entertainments include a Toast to the Lassies, 
a tongue in cheek tribute to the fairer sex,
for which Mr Burns had quite a penchant.

The Lassies get the opportunity to reply...
...sweet revenge!

Finally, a regailing with some Scottish poetry with an authentic accent.

Last but not least, the dynamic duo. Two authentic Scottish members of the Order responsible for the delicate task of preparing the Haggis for the English. Quite a task!




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Easter Message from the Grand Master

March 27, 2018, 12:45 pm
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 Hæc dies quam fecit Dominus, Alleluia! 

The recent atrocity in Paris focuses our mind on the call to embrace a sacrificial life of service, understanding that during this season “Christ became obedient for us, even to death, death on a cross.” It is a reminder that to fully understand the glory of the Resurrection, we must first experience the tribulations of Holy Week. 

The Declaration of Legitimacy, promulgated in 2013, encompasses the essence of who we are as an ancient Order of Chivalry. During this most glorious of Solemnities I ask you to contemplate the importance of its opening exhortation: “The Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem is, since its origin in the Holy Land, a Catholic institution. Its spiritual vocation was solidified with the search for Christian unity during the nineteenth century.” 

In a very real sense it re-enforces our identity through 3 clear facets: Tradition as we embrace our foundations in the very city where Our Lord walked the road to Calvary and Easter; Catholicity as a universal Order reaching out to all people of good will with the offer of God's mercy, so often spoken of by our Holy Father Pope Francis; and Spirituality through which we support the marginalised, the abandoned and the sick. 

The Apostolic Exhortation Laudato Si speaks of a spirituality that embraces the whole of creation. It reminds us that the Earth, as our mother and common home, requires protection. In these simple words, our Holy Father is challenging us to cultivate a spiritual awareness that does not put man above all creation, rather placing ourselves at the service of God’s beautiful works. 

In a subsequent address to the Polish Bishops, our Holy Father focused on two pillars of the Gospel which I see as fundamental tenets for us to follow in the Order. He acknowledged that Christ’s teaching, “Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me” has to be underpinned by a genuine belief in the Beatitudes. It is, in fact, through these teachings that we promise serve God as brothers and sisters in the Order of Saint Lazarus. 

The hardship of Holy Week reminds us of the broken world in which we live. The joy of Easter reminds us of the hope to which our Faith and our vocation calls us. Our Blessed Lord himself reminds us that those who are truly blessed are those who share the qualities that He values; these are what make us truly noble, not the qualities valued by the world. 

I pray that you and your families will have a blessed Eastertide and go forth with new hope. 

In the name of God, the Virgin Mary and Saint Lazarus, 

Jan Count Dobrzensky z Dobrzenicz 
50th Grand Master
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New Grand Prior for Great Britain

April 29, 2018, 7:24 am
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The annual Chapter meeting of the Grand Priory took place in Lancashire yesterday. Members of the Grand Priory were delighted to give our wholehearted assent to the Grand Master's appointment of H.E. Chev. Anthony Dickinson KLJ CMLJ as our new Grand Prior.  


H.E. The Grand Master, Jan Count Dobrzensky z Dobrzenicz, writes:
"He will enjoy my full confidence, protection and respect. Success within the Order has been based upon unity, fraternal respect and Christian love. As members in Great Britain it is my wish that you embrace and support the leadership of your new Grand Prior and assist him in this challenging vocation. I commend this mission to you."


The Grand Prior outlined a strategic plan for us to move forward with some bold new initiatives and some welcome encouragement for our existing and prospective new members - already petitioning to become our brothers and sisters at our Investiture later this year on 28th and 29th September.


Thanks to Chaplain of the Order, Fr Michael Thompson for his hospitality and welcome.
It has been our tradition to hold the Chapter Meeting in the parish of one of our Chaplains; this year we were hosted by St Richard's Church in Skelmersdale.

 The church was designed by Edward Welby Pugin in 1864, 
and was opened on the 18th June 1865 by the Right Reverend Alexander Goss, 
the second Bishop of Liverpool.




H.E. Chev. Matthew Jackson, Secretary to the Grand Magistry, represented the Grand Master.


From the new Grand Prior's address to Chapter:
"Drawing from our Charter, our Tradition and our individual life experiences we must move forward together. Over recent years we have tended to be cautious about our momentum but if we look at our record of giving and compare it with our small number of members and, with respect, our even smaller number of ‘active’ members it is time to cast caution aside and move ahead, t a k i n g pride in our achievements and using that as a selling point to try and attract new members."
“Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” [Mt. 13:52]



 A few members orienting themselves in in the Order of Service.

Final prayers.
 



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Grand Priory of Great Britain sponsors Summer Conference

May 16, 2018, 2:44 am
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Europe and the Faith : 
an inter-disciplinary Catholic conference
30th July to 3rd August 2018

The Grand Priory of Great Britain is sponsoring the Summer Conference in Chavagnes International College and Studium this year, where Order Chaplain Fr Mark Lawler is the Chaplain and also one of the speakers (G K Chesterton as his subject).

Although set in the beautiful and historic Vendée in the west of France, the College classes are taught in English (for boys of secondary age and now also at degree level at the Studium there). The Conference is also in English.

The Grand Priory is sponsoring the College Conference because it is a place of truly Christian education, where the Faith is an integral part of daily life and the boys are taught to embrace the Faith with  both joy and courage. It is also hoped that those attending the Conference might be a good audience among which to promote the work of the Order - approaching people already interested in their Faith. The Order will have an active presence at the Conference, with our Grand Prior, Chaplain General and at several other members - and prospective members -  hoping to be present.


Joseph Pearce will be the Keynote Speaker  -  “The Catholic vision of JRR Tolkien”  -  at the Summer Conference in Chavagnes, France, this year. Now in its third year, the Conference has proved to be a lively and interesting event in a convivial atmosphere, with daily Mass and visits to local places of Catholic interest.

Although in France (Nantes is the nearest airport) the Conference talks take place in English (which is also the language in which the College and Studium teach their secondary and tertiary students.)

JOSEPH PEARCE is a senior fellow at The Cardinal Newman Society and editor of its journal. He is a senior contributor at The Imaginative Conservative and senior editor at the Augustine Institute. Up until recently, Director of the Center for Faith and Culture at Aquinas College in Nashville, Tennessee he was previously on the staff of Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in Merrimack, New Hampshire,  Ave Maria College in Ypsilanti, Michigan and at Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, Florida. His books include biographical works on C.S. Lewis, Shakespeare, Tolkien, Chesterton, Wilde, Solzhenitsyn and Belloc. He is a visiting professor for the Studium’s new Liberal Arts degree being launched in September 2018.


Pontifical High Mass from one of the previous Conferences.

"A man’s view of himself is not an “aspect:” it is a comprehension. Now then, so it is with us who are of the Faith and the great story of Europe. A Catholic as he reads that story does not grope at it from without, he understands it from within. He cannot understand it altogether because he is a finite being; but he is also that which he has to understand. The Faith is Europe and Europe is the Faith.”                                                                                                                                              Hilare Belloc

You can find out more about the Conference (which is very reasonably priced and will also provide transport to and from Nantes Airport) - as well as an online booking form at:

http://chavagnes.org/conferences/

The College is set in the beautiful countryside of the French Vendée.

Bishop Athanasius Schneider speaking at a previous Conference.

The Little Office of Our Lady being sung in the Baudouin Chapel.

A convivial evening in the gardens.



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Priestly Ordination

June 12, 2018, 2:12 am
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Archbishop Malcolm McMahon of Liverpool celebrated Pontifical High Mass for the Ordination of Deacon Seth Phipps to the sacred Priesthood at the Shrine of St Mary in Warrington, Lancashire last Saturday. The Shrine is run by the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter. It is the second year that the Archbishop has celebrated ordinations there and only the second time ordinations have been conducted in the Traditional Form of the Roman Rite in Great Britain in the last 50 years.

Present was Great Britain's Chaplain General, representing the Order of St Lazarus,
at this wonderful occasion, offering our prayers and congratulations to the new priest,
Fr Seth Phipps, FSSP.

Before Mass stars the Archbishop prays at the Lady Chapel.


The Ordinand, Seth Phipps, trained at the FSSP American Seminary in Denton, Nebraska. He hails from the South West of England and holds a doctorate in Classics from Oxford.

Archbishop Malcolm addresses the ordinand and the congregation. 

Great Britain's Chaplain General and Chaplain to the Grand Magistry, Fr Simon Henry, was in attendance representing the Order of St Lazarus. 

The Litany of Saints.

The ordinand's hands are bound in service to Almighty God.

When the chasuble is first placed on the newly ordained, it is folded up, only being released at the end of the Mass as the newly ordained is sent out too minister in God's Church.

His Grace, the Most Rev. Malcolm McMahon, O. P.
The Archbishop of Liverpool.
His Grace, as with our own Cardinal Duka, is a member of the Order of Preachers - a Dominican.


The Sacred Ministers and servers.

The giving of First Blessings by the new priest.
We give thanks to God for another priest to serve His Church and continue to pray for vocations.

You can access many more photographs of the occasion at:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/138056205@N08/albums/72157667970978197/page1

Photographs used here with the kind permission of
John Aron Photography









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GARDEN PARTY

June 18, 2018, 6:04 am
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In conjunction with His Grace, Archbishop Malcolm McMahon, the Archbishop of Liverpool, the Grand Priory of Great Britain is supporting St Joseph's Hospice Association as one of its charities this year. Members and friends are encouraged to support them. We have donated a large Spirits and Wine Hamper to the Garden Party. Thank you to those members that contributed.

St. Joseph's Hospice
7th July 2018 13:00 - 19:00
Come and join us in our beautiful gardens for a fun-filled family afternoon in our beautiful hospice grounds.
Expect all this and more!
  • Teddy Bears Picnic and Parade
  • Teddy Treasure Hunt
  • Ice cream, Candyfloss and Popcorn
  • BBQ
  • Prosecco Bar
  • Garden Afternoon Tea
  • Entertainment and Music
  • Stalls and Games
  • Raffles and Tombolas
  • Reflections Service at the Pool of Remembrance
  • Visit the Stations of the Cross

Free admission for all!

For more information, call the fundraising team on 0151 932 6026 or email events@jospice.org.uk.
Father Francis O'Leary MHM MBE MAFounded by Francis Aloysius O'Leary MBE (1931–2000) a Roman Catholic priest and missionary who founded the St Joseph's Hospice Association, an international network of hospices known as Jospice.Father O'Leary was born June 18 1931 in Crosby, Liverpool, England, the youngest of three children. At the age of 11, he entered the seminary of Mill Hill Fathers at Freshfield. He later attended seminaries at Burn Hall, County Durham, and St Joseph's College in Roosendaal, Netherlands. Father O'Leary was ordained on 8 July 1956. After earning a post-graduate degree from Glasgow University in 1960, he was posted to Pakistan.Father O'Leary was assigned as a missionary in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. In 1962, while attending to a sick woman in an empty mud hut, he realized the need for a hospice care facility. In 1964, he opened the first hospice in Rawalpindi. After receiving advice from Mother Teresa, he obtained loans and donations to establish more facilities. Father O'Leary established several hospices in Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras and Guatemala. He also founded three facilities in England.In 1973, Father O'Leary was the subject of the British television program This Is Your Life.In 1974 the UK Jospice opened in Thornton, near Crosby.It was Father O'Leary's legacy to provide love and compassionate care to people of any faith and those without faith in the last weeks of their life. He was awarded the 1974 Daniel Carrion Medal for his medical work in Peru.In 1996, he was awarded an MBE membership.Father O'Leary died at age 69 on October 4, 2000.The leader of England's Roman Catholics, Archbishop Vincent Nichols was a cousin of Father O'Leary, and is current president of the Jospice organisation.
Fr Francis appearing on "This is your Life".

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Raising a glass for charity

July 18, 2018, 11:37 pm
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HE Anthony Dickinson, Grand Prior of Great Britain, presented a hamper at the annual St Joseph's Hospice Garden Party recently to assist in raising funds for their work.

Thank you to members of the Order who donated various bottles to make a welcome addition to any drinks cabinet!

St Joseph's Hospice is one of the charities supported by the Order here in Great Britain, working with Archbishop Malcolm McMahon of Liverpool. The hospice was founded by in the Archdiocese by Fr Francis O'Leary, caring for those with terminal illness. This first small project is the first of many as we work with this local charity, engaging in supporting the life of the Church in our local dioceses.


http://www.jospice.org.uk/default.aspx
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Mass for the Feast of the Most Precious Blood

July 23, 2018, 9:34 am
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On the 1st July, the Feast of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord, Fr Simon Henry, Chaplain General in Great Britain, celebrated Mass for those suffering from leprosy, at his church in Lancashire. many chaplains of the Order all over the world did likewise, offering a spiritual work of mercy. It was taken up here at the suggestion of our new Grand Prior designate, H.E. Anthony Dickinson.

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Devotion to the Precious Blood is not a spiritual option, it is a spiritual obligation, and that not only for priests, but for every follower of Christ. I really believe that one of the symptoms of modern society (and I would even include, sadly, modern Catholic society) one of the symptoms of a growing, gnawing secularism is the lessening and the weakening of devotion to the Precious Blood. Devotion, as we know, is a composite of three elements: It is first- veneration, it is secondly- invocation, and it is thirdly- imitation. In other words, devotion to the Precious Blood of Christ, the Lamb of God who was slain, is first of all to be veneration on our part, which is a composite of knowledge, love and adoration. We are to study to come to a deeper understanding of what those two casual words, Precious Blood, really mean.

I found this passage in the oldest document, outside of sacred scripture, from the first century of the Christian era – to be exact, from Pope St. Clement I, dated about 96 A.D. Says Pope Clement: "Let us fix our gaze on the Blood of Christ and realize how truly precious It is, seeing that it was poured out for our salvation and brought the grace of conversion to the whole world."

To understand the meaning of the Precious Blood we must get some comprehension of the gravity of sin, of the awfulness of offending God, because it required the Blood of the Son of God to forgive that sin. We are living in an age in which to sin has become fashionable.

This veneration of the Precious Blood, which is the first element in our devotion to the Precious Blood means that we have a deep sensitivity to the awfulness of sin. Sin must be terrible. It must be awful. It must be the most dreadful thing in the universe. Why? Because it cost the living God in human form the shedding of His Blood.

                                               Excerpted from The Precious Blood of Christ, Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.


Lord Jesus, You became Man in order by your Passion and Death and the draining of your Blood on the Cross, might prove to us how much You, our God, love us. Protect us, dear Jesus, from ever running away from the sight of blood. Strengthen our weak human wills so that we will not only not run away from the cross, but welcome every opportunity to shed our blood in spirit in union with your Precious Blood, so that, dying to ourselves in time we might live with You in Eternity. Amen


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Chavagnes Studium Conference

August 18, 2018, 7:32 am
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In its third year, the Chavagnes Studium Conference received sponsorship this year from the Grand Priory of Great Britain. Three members of the Order gave papers and there were seven members of the Grand Priory, including our new Grand Prior designate, Chev. Anthony Dickinson, at the event. Several young men from the College will be admitted to the Order as Esquires in our forthcoming Investiture on 28th & 29th of September in Preston next month.

The College was founded 15 years ago in what was a former junior seminary in the Diocese of Luçon and for the past two years has been in the process of creating a Liberal Arts Degree course - the Studium - fully functioning starting this September. Although situated in the historic Vendeé region of France, it is an English speaking College, drawing students form all over Europe and beyond, including the USA.


The Conference title this year was "Europe and the Faith".
The Chaplain General for Great Britain gave a paper entitled, 

The Dictatorship of Relativism and European Identity.
An analysis of Pope Benedict XVI's  Regensburg Lecture



Fr Mark Lawler, SChLJ, CMLJ, presented a paper on
Chesterton and Anglo-Catholicism.



The keynote speaker was JOSEPH PEARCE, a senior fellow at The Cardinal Newman Society and editor of its journal. He is a senior contributor at The Imaginative Conservative and senior editor at the Augustine Institute. Up until recently, Director of the Center for Faith and Culture at Aquinas College in Nashville, Tennessee he was previously on the staff of Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in Merrimack, New Hampshire,  Ave Maria College in Ypsilanti, Michigan and at Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, Florida. His books include biographical works on C.S. Lewis, Shakespeare, Tolkien, Chesterton, Wilde, Solzhenitsyn and Belloc. He is a visiting professor for the Studium’s new Liberal Arts degree being launched in September 2018. He presented two fascinating talks

The catholic Literary Revival
and
The Catholic vision of JRR Tolkien



Luca Fumagalli is an Italian teacher and writer. He is co-founder and Editor of Radio Spada
 (http://www.radiospada.org/) 
and has published on RH Benson, Baron Corvo and William Golding.

Jonathan Battye, BLJ, Vice Principal of the College, gave a talk on
Henry VIII and the Rule of Law



Ferdi McDermott is Principal and Founder of Chavagnes International College (www.chavagnes.org) and the Chavagnes Studium. He has authored and edited several books on literary and theological topics and also founded the international Catholic cultural journal, Stain Austin Review in 200. (http://staustinreview.org/)


Benjamin Harnwell presented a paper on 
The Price of Liberty is Eternal Vigilance - Does Europe want to pay the price?
He is director of the Dignitatis Humanae Institute, founded to help Christian politicians defend the faith in the public square. He drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Dignity, launched by the Speaker of the European Parliament in 2009 and was a long-term aid to senior British politician Nirj Deva from 1996 until stepping down as Chief of Staff in 2010 to concentrate on DHI. He writes occasional pieces for Breitbart and the National Catholic Register.



“The Courtesy of Polymaths: Jesuit and Lutheran scholars in 17th c. Europe”, 
Dr Thomas E Conlon.


Daniel Rabourdin, film producer (formerly at EWTN) showed the English version of his film
"The Hidden Rebellion"
It presents a searing examination of the events surrounding one of history's most chilling stories of genocide, the slaughter of the noble Catholics of the Vendeé.

We walked the few minutes to the local cinema in Chavagnes to watch the screening.
One of the College cats followed the party and had to be ejected!


In fact, the local felines seemed particularly interested in some of the talks.
Here the College Chaplain calms the savage beast.

She only wanted her own chair.




The week included a visit to the Chateau, Chardière Castle, just two kilometres from the College. It is still lived in by the descendants of the Count of Suzannet,  who led the Army of Lower Poitou during the Vendée Wars in 1799. In pride of place is a painting by Jean-Baptiste Mauzaisse of the Count. He is one of the generals of the Vendeeé whom the four houses of the school are named after: Suzannet,  Rochejaquelein,  Cathelineau and Charette.

Image result for chateau chardiere vendee

Image result for suzannet chateau chardiere vendee


Cocktails served in the beautiful surroundings of the Chateau helped the evening along, with a toast to the General and the great history of the Vendeé.












The Liturgy formed an integral part of the week.
We sang the Little Office of Our Lady each day and celebrated High Mass.













The East window depicts the Proclamation of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception.



Built on the hillside overlooking the course of the Petite Maine, the sanctuary of La Salette in La Rabatelière, consists of various buildings that marked the parish life of the late XIX th century and shows the fervor of the Vendée to honour Our Blessed Lady. The sanctuary was built in 1887 on the initiative of Father Hillairet, parish priest of Rabatelière, in part, to provide work for the local people. It represents the apparitions of the Virgin to the children of La Salette in the Alps in 1846. A pilgrimage takes place every year on the first Sunday of September.

In 1949, Bishop Roncalli who was apostolic nuncio, but who will become
Pope John  XXIII was visiting La Rabateliere - and the College. The inhabitants,
all proud, took him to  see the sanctuary of La Salette.
 Seeing this site, Bishop Roncalli exclaimed:
"  Oh, how many bricks, how many bricks  ! ".


The Virgin appearing to the children.

 And weeping for the sins of mankind.




Another visit - this time to the Chateau in Les Brouzils.
A manor house has stood on the site since the 14th century. The present house dates from 1884 but the house it replaced served as a hiding place during the Terror. Local priest, Canon Goillandeau sometimes went there to say Mass. It was also part of the 83 houses burned on February 22, 1793, by the infernal columns of General Turreau, whose forces massacred tens of thousands of Vendeéans.



Not forgetting our bodily nourishment.
Meals served each day in the College Refectory.


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Investiture Mass 2018

September 10, 2018, 6:48 am
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The Grand Priory of Great Britain is preparing for its Investiture of new members. 
This year to be held in Preston, Lancashire.


Members and friends are invited to the Vigil Service in the Chapel at Samlesbury Hall 
on Friday 28th September.
This will be followed by a Drinks Reception and a Charity Dinner in the Great Hall 
of this ancient and historic House.
Applications to attend the Dinner supporting the Order's Charities are still welcome,
though please contact us as soon as possible for the few remaining seats
as the Great Hall has seating limited to 100 guests.


We are particularly looking forward to welcoming our Grand Master 
for the Dinner and Investiture.


We will also be welcoming Deputy Lord-Lieutenant of  Lancashire, Col Alan Jolley
and his wife Mary once again to our celebrations.



Solemn High Mass in the Traditional Form followed by the Investiture,
will take place on Saturday 29th September at 11am
at the Church of St Thomas of Canterbury and the English Martyrs,
Garstang Road, Preston.
The Mass will be that of St Michael the Archangel, as the Feast of the Day,
whose powerful intercession we will invoke for the Order and the Church.

Holy Michael, Archangel, defend us in the day of battle!


There is a fine organ in the church, so we look forward to some splendid music,
accompanied by tympani and brass for the Mozart Mass setting.
Following a Drinks Reception in the church gardens
there is a Gala Luncheon at eh Holiday Inn, Preston City centre.


We are pleased to welcome to Mass the representative in Lancashire of Her Majesty, the Queen, 
the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, Lord Shuttleworth and his wife.

We are also pleased to welcome to Mass 
the 691st Mayor of Preston, Councillor Trevor Hart.



As well as investing five new members and four new Esquires
the Grand Master will confirm Chev. Anthony Dickinson 
as the new Grand Prior
of Great Britain.





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Support for wounded British Veterans

October 2, 2018, 11:44 pm
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The Grand Priory of Great Britain held a 
Charity Dinner last Friday on the eve of the annual Investiture Mass.
We were in the splendid setting of 
Samlesbury Hall in Lancashire, 
in the presence of  the Grand Master,
HE Jan Count Dobrzenský z Dobrzenicz.




The Grand Prior presented a cheque for £200 to 
Col. Alan Jolley, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, 
for the work of BLESMA - 
a Charity that works with limbless veterans.



We enjoyed a fine dinner with eighty guests, 
including after dinner entertainments,
in the Great Hall of Samlesbury.
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