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Scenes from Holy Week in Blackfriars

From Monday to Wednesday of Holy Week this year, the Dominican students prayed the Stations of the Cross in our priory church in Oxford. Each day, a different brother led the meditations, pausing at one of the stations to preach a short reflection. The videos of those reflections were posted on Godzdogz earlier this week. Below are some photos from the Stations of the Cross:









On Spy Wednesday (8 April), Churches Together in Central Oxford organized its annual Walk of Witness through the busy shopping streets of Oxford. Once again, the brothers and congregation from Blackfriars were the largest group represented at this ecumenical event as we walked silently through the city following behind a large wooden cross:



On Maundy Thursday morning, the priory church was full for Tenebrae, the offices of Matins and Lauds, sung with readings and chanted responsories. At the close of Tenebrae each day, the cantors lead the choir in a litany of prayers at the foot of the High Altar. Below is a video of this segment of Tenebrae, followed by a translation of the text.



Lord, have mercy (in Greek & Latin).
Christ the Lord was made obedient unto death.

You who came to suffer for us:
Christ, have mercy.

You who, your arms stretched out on the cross, drew all ages to yourself:
Christ, have mercy.

You who prophesied: 'I will be your death, O Death':
Christ have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ the Lord was made obedient unto death.
Lord, have mercy (in Greek & Latin).
Christ the Lord was made obedient unto death:
even the death of the cross.

Provincial Day in London - Part 2

At the close of the Provincial Day on December 17th, the friars celebrated Solemn Vespers. After a period of silent prayer in St Dominic's Church we gathered in the cloister for the start of the liturgy. The video below shows clips from Vespers. The music is a long responsory sung by four cantors during the liturgy:

Qui venturus est, veniet, et non tardabit: et iam non erit timor in finibus nostris: quoniam ipse est Salvator noster.

Deponet omnes iniquitates nostras, et proiciet in profundum maris omnia peccata nostra /quoniam ipse est Salvator noster.

Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto / quoniam ipse est Salvator noster.

The one who is to come shall come and not delay, and there will be fear in our land no longer, for he is our Saviour. 

He will tread all our iniquities underfoot, and cast all our sins into the depths of the sea / for he is our Saviour.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit / for he is our Saviour.

During the liturgy, the Provincial instituted three of the student brothers - frs Graham Hunt, Mark Davoren and Gregory Pearson - as Lectors. 

This lay ministry is conferred on those who are training for the priesthood although it is not restricted to these men. The lector is instituted to proclaim in the liturgies the readings from Sacred Scripture, with the exception of the gospel reading. They are to develop a warm and lively love for Scripture and hand on this love through their proclamation of the word of God and their instruction of people in the faith.

Please remember us in your prayers that we may faithfully and joyfully preach the word of God and continue always to contemplate that word in our own hearts.

Christmas responsory

Above is a live recording from Second Vespers of Christmas celebrated in Blackfriars, Oxford. This is the responsory sung after the scripture reading.

Descendit de caelis Deus verus a Patre genitus: introivit in uterum Virginis, nobis ut appareret visibilis, indutus carne humana a proto parente edita, et exivit per clausam portam Deus et homo, Lux et Vita, Conditor mundi.

Tamquam sponsus Dominus procedens de thalamo suo.

Lux et Vita, Conditor mundi.

Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto.

Lux et Vita, Conditor mundi.

He came down from heaven: true God, begotten of the Father: he entered the Virgin's womb, that he might be made clearly manifest to us, clothed in human flesh put forth by the Creator, he went out through the closed door, God and man, Light and Life, Author of the world.

Like a bridegroom, the Lord coming forth from his chamber.

Light and Life, Author of the world.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Light and Life, Author of the world.

Institution of Acolytes

On Friday 21st November, the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, two of our brothers, fr Robert Verrill OP and fr Daniel Mary Jeffries OP were instituted as acolytes by the Prior Provincial, fr John Farrell OP during the Conventual Mass.

The ministry of acolyte was created by Pope Paul VI in 1972 along with the ministry of lector to replace the minor orders that existed up to that point in the Latin Church. The idea of ministries as opposed to orders was that the then Holy Father wished to open up what had previously been clerical orders to a wider group so that any layman could be instituted in them. 

The acolyte's function is to assist the priest and deacon. "It is his duty therefore to attend to the service of the altar and to assist the deacon and the priest in liturgical celebrations, especially in the celebration of Mass" (Ministeria Quaedam). The acolyte is instituted to assist in the distribution of Holy Communion when there are not enough priests and deacons, to take communion to the sick, and to expose the Blessed Sacrament for the adoration of the faithful. However, the acolyte may not give Benediction. 

For clerical brothers of religious institutes and seminarians, being instituted as an acolyte is seen as a step towards ordination, God willing, that enables the brother or seminarian to take a more active role in the sacramental and pastoral service of his community. As he passes from lector to acolyte, the increased intimacy with the Sacrament of the Altar that his being instituted brings, requires of him a greater love for the Lord and his Mystical Body, the Church, so that that which is symbolised in the Sacred Liturgy might truly represent the reality of the community. So the acolyte not only assists at the Eucharist but also brings Holy Communion to the sick and housebound helping them to maintain their link with the sacramental life of the community.

Below are photos from the Mass in which our brothers were instituted as acolytes:

The provincial addresses the brothers who are to become acolytes, reminding them that their closeness to the altar is to be marked by a growth in charity: "In performing your ministry, bear in mind that as you share one bread with your brothers and sisters, so you form one body with them. Show a sincere love for Christ’s Mystical Body, God’s holy people, and especially for the weak and the sick…"

A prayer of blessing is said over the acolytes, and the provincial prays God to "make them assiduous in the service of the altar, faithfully distributing the bread of life to their brothers and sisters, growing always in faith and charity."

As the paten with bread and chalice with wine is handed over to the acolytes as a sign of their ministry, the provincial says: "Take this vessel... for the celebration of the Eucharist. Make your life worthy of your service at the table of the Lord and of his Church."

Above, fr Robert Verrill OP receives the bread and wine, and below, fr Daniel Mary Jeffries OP.

The newly-instituted acolytes assist at the preparation of the gifts, because they have been called to "assist priests and deacons in carrying out their ministry."

Oxford Martyrs' Mass at Blackfriars

Over two hundred people gathered in Blackfriars Oxford on 25 October for a High Mass celebrated according to the 1962 Roman rite. This was probably the first time that this particular form of Mass, now called the 'extraordinary form' of the Roman rite, has been celebrated in the Oxford priory church with Dominican friars serving at the altar. Fr Dominic Jacob from the Oxford Oratory was the celebrant, and he was assisted by fr David Rocks OP as deacon and fr Lawrence Lew OP as sub-deacon. In addition, five other Dominican brothers served as Master of Ceremonies and acolytes at the High Mass. Also present in choir were Bishop William Kenney CP who preached, and priests and religious from around Oxford.

The Mass was a votive Mass to commemorate four martyrs of Oxford who were executed for their Catholic Faith on 5 July 1589. Fr George Nichols, Fr Richard Yaxley, Thomas Belson and Humphrey Pritchard were beatified in 1987. To mark their heroic witness, the Latin Mass Society (LMS) erected a plaque at 100 Holywell Street in Oxford, which is the site of their martyrdoms. 

Since 2004, Dr Joseph Shaw has been organising a Pilgrimage to honour the Oxford martyrs and this year was especially significant because the newly-erected plaque was to be blessed. After the Mass and lunch, an even larger group met at Cornmarket, near the site of the old prison where the four men were imprisoned, and went in procession singing the Litany and Te Deum to Holywell. There, Bishop Kenney, who is the auxiliary bishop for Oxford, blessed the plaque and reminded us that even today we have to die to ourselves and suffer for our Faith. The group then returned to Blackfriars for Benediction which was given by Fr Armand de Malleray FSSP.

Below are photos from the Mass, courtesy of Joseph Nunan and Martin Beek.

View of the High Altar from the nave which was completely full.

Prayers at the foot of the altar said by the priest, deacon (right) and sub-deacon (left).

The altar is incensed at the beginning of Mass

fr Lawrence sings the reading from Revelations 7:13-17

The Gospel procession forms up in front of the High Altar

fr David sings the Gospel from Luke 2:9-19

Bishop Kenney preaches on the value of suffering and the need to bear witness to Christ with our very lives in an age where the Church is still under attack but in a more subtle manner than in the 16th century.

During the Eucharistic Prayer, or Canon of the Mass, the three ministers at the Altar adopt this position, with the sub-deacon holding the paten in a humeral veil. This is a seemingly odd, but interesting, survival from the 7th-century papal liturgy in Rome.

View from the gallery of the Canon of the Mass being prayed

The bishop receives Holy Communion

Above and below, the distribution of Holy Communion

Acolytes bearing torches lead the procession at the end of Mass

This High Mass, which was celebrated in a form that was familiar to the Oxford martyrs, was a beautiful occasion which reminded us of the richness of the Church's liturgical tradition. It is part of our Catholic heritage, and links those of us who usually celebrate the (post-Vatican II) 'ordinary form' of the Roman rite to those saints we commemorated. 

As Pope Benedict XVI said: "There is no contradiction between the two editions of the Roman Missal. In the history of the liturgy there is growth and progress, but no rupture. What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful. It behooves all of us to preserve the riches which have developed in the Church’s faith and prayer, and to give them their proper place".   - Letter accompanying 'Summorum Pontificum'

Spode Music Week

From the 9th to 16th August, Spode Music Week took place and was attended by Br Robert Verrill OP.

Spode Music Week has been an annual occurrence for the past 55 years and brings together amateur and professional musicians to celebrate God’s gift of music. Spode Music Week was founded by the Dominican Conrad Pepler OP and he made a huge contribution to its success over 27 years. The music week originally started in 1954 and until 1986, it took place at Spode House, a conference centre next to Hawkesyard priory. Since leaving Spode, the music week has kept its name and has been held at a number of venues. For the last few years it has been held at the Beechwood Sacred Heart School in Tunbridge Wells.

Over the years, Spode Music Week has managed to maintain its Catholic ethos. Everyday Mass is celebrated, the highlight of the week being the final Mass in which the course work is performed – this year it was Vaughan William’s Mass in G Minor, a work that was chosen to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Vaughan Williams' death. Compline is also sung every evening. One of the most popular compline settings among Spode participants was composed by the composer Anthony Milner, the brother of our very own Austin Milner OP. This year, Fr Austin gave a talk about Conrad (Steven) Pepler’s life before he joined the order and his association with Eric Gill. Another very interesting talk was given by the composer Judith Bingham who spoke about how she goes about writing liturgical music.

For the last few years, Fr Philip Whitmore has been the chaplain for Spode Music Week. Fr Philip works in the Roman Curia, but he is also an excellent pianist. This year he was one of the soloists in Beethoven’s Triple Concerto, one of the course pieces.

A great variety of orchestral works was performed during the week ranging from Bach’s Brandenburg concerto No. 2 to the theme tune to Thunderbirds. There were also several very high quality evening recitals. One was given by Alison Wells and another by Sophie Bevan, both of whom are well known sopranos. In addition to the Vaughan Williams Mass, two other choral works were performed, Shakespeare Songs and May Magnificat composed by William Mathias. May Magnificat is a choral setting to the beautiful poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins.


A testament to the popularity of Spode Music Week is that people keep coming back with their families year after year. The combination of liturgical and non-liturgical music, together with the friendly environment in which there is something on offer for musicians of all abilities makes the week very inclusive and appealing. The lasting success of Spode Music Week is a very fitting tribute to Conrad Pepler OP.

Holy Week & Triduum photos from Blackfriars

Below are some photos from this year's Holy Week and Triduum at Blackfriars, Oxford:



On Holy Monday, the community hosted an ecumenical Stations of the Cross. It was a chance for us to introduce the 14 Stations to other Christian communities in central Oxford and three Dominican students and members of other Christian communities gave brief reflections at each station.

This act of witness to our faith in Christ's saving death was expressed more publicly on Spy Wednesday as we walked through the busiest streets of Oxford, carrying a cross and giving out leaflets to shoppers and passers-by on the true meaning of Easter:



During the Triduum, the Office of Tenebrae was celebrated. A hearse of 15 unbleached candles is prepared and similarly unbleached candles are placed on the High Altar. In the Dominican custom, these are all gradually extinguished as the Office progresses.



The Office ends with a short litany at the foot of the Altar sung by four cantors alternating with the friars' choir and it ends, not with the loud banging some may remember in the Roman rite but with the words mortem autem crucis sung loudly and at a high pitch, after which the cantors prostrate themselves dramatically as the friars in choir kneel in prayer.





Above, the Altar of Repose on Maundy Thursday.

The Good Friday liturgy is very well-attended and many come, I suspect, for the distinctive Dominican way of performing the Veneration of the Cross. As has been posted here previously, the friars creep to the Cross by prostrating themselves three times. A relic of the True Cross is embedded in the cross which is held for veneration by the friars and the faithful, who come up, genuflecting thrice as they approach.





Finally the bleakness and austerity of Good Friday gives way to the light and richness of Easter Sunday. Below are photos from Solemn Vespers on Easter Sunday:

The Easter Vigil

The Readings may be found here.

We have come to Saturday evening at last. Those who have joined in the Triduum liturgies will, perhaps, be slightly worn out. The evening Mass of the Lord's Supper and the Solemn Liturgy of Our Lord's Passion, certainly as celebrated here at Blackfriars in Oxford, mean spending an impressive amount of time in Church - close to four hours in our case. We have celebrated our Lord's Passion and death by recalling and entering into the mysteries. Even though we all know the story, when we hear and see the Scriptures acted out for us, we cannot help but be left marked by the injustice and brutality of Jesus' death: all seems to be lost.

It is against this background that the joy of the resurrection breaks through at the Easter Vigil. We get a second wind despite our tiredness, because we know that death is not the end of the story, but the beginning. The austerity of Good Friday gives way to the light and life that the resurrection brings. What looked like defeat becomes the victory. In the liturgy of the Easter Vigil, we are given a survey of salvation history, where we see the unfolding of God's plan since the beginning of the world, a plan which reaches its high point in the death and resurrection of Christ.

What is enacted for us in the Triduum in such a careful and deliberate way should not only transform these few days and weeks, but our whole lives. We are shown what great love God has for us, and we are given a pattern for our lives. The death and resurrection of Christ effects an outpouring of grace that helps us to die to our pride, selfishness, anger, and greed, and rise to live lives that are joyful, peaceful, and useful in the service of God and neighbour. The message of the angel is that Christ is risen. Let us live each day as children of the risen Christ, rejoicing in the freedom won for us at so great a price.

Happy Easter!

Feast of the Chair of St. Peter

In the Gospel for today’s feast, Jesus puts a stark question to his disciples. It is the same question that Jesus puts to all those who would follow him and take the name of Christian. Who do you say that I am? Only Peter, moved by the inner prompting of the Holy Spirit, has the courage to speak up for the truth and proclaim boldly, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God". Then Jesus goes on to proclaim Peter as the Rock on which he will build his Church and to grant him the power of the keys, the power to bind and loose sin. That authority is founded on Peter’s proclamation of the truth about Jesus.

The mission of St Peter to proclaim the truth about Christ to the world remains with the Church. It is purpose of the teaching office of the Pope which we celebrate on today‘s feast. The truth about Christ, about the dignity and inviolability of every human life from conception to natural death, about love, justice and our true identities as beloved children of God is a message the world today often reacts against. Yet it is a message as vital and as liberating as ever. In a modern world that prefers to ask like Pilate "what is truth?" the Church dares to boldly proclaim Jesus Christ as the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Easter Liturgies

Here are some photographs of our Easter liturgies.

The Paschal candle, painted by Br Thomas Skeats OP, the sacristan.

The Easter fire is prepared in the garden by Fr Denis Minns OP and it is blessed:
"Father, we share in the light of your glory through your Son, the light of the world..."
The blessed fire is then used to light the Paschal candle.

The priory church is filled with the new light of Easter lit from the Paschal candle. In the words of the Exsultet, it is "a flame divided but undimmed, a pillar of fire that glows to the honour of God".

Br Robert Mehlhart OP led the schola of friars in singing some of the psalms during the Vigil and also conducted the volunteer choir. At the Vigil, the 'Blackfriars Mass' by Br Bruno Clifton OP was sung for the first time, as well as Palestrina's Sicut cervus and pieces of traditional chant.

The Paschal candle burns from Easter until Pentecost, a symbol of the risen Christ.

Solemn Vespers was sung on Easter Sunday and during the Magnificat, the High Altar and the people are incensed.

Sunlight floods the east window during Vespers. This natural light too reminds us of Christ. As the Exsultet says: "He is that morning star that knows no setting, Jesus Christ your Son who came back from the dead to shed his clear light on all humankind".

We wish all our Godzdogz readers a happy and blessed Easter!