Ordination of Michael Nazir-Ali to the Sacred Order of Presbyters: transcribed remarks

-

Post-Ordination Remarks

1:58:00 Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPGbk2lNMFk

Ordination of Michael Nazir-Ali to the Sacred Order of Presbyters

Post-Ordination Remarks

The Rev. Fr. Michael Nazir-Ali

Thank you Fr. Keith for this opportunity, and first of all, of course, I would like to express my gratitude to His Eminence Vincent Cardinal Nichols for coming and for spending so much time. Actually, more time than he had allocated, because he arrived an hour earlier than he had intended. I’m sure that’s in God’s providence. And, of course, to Monsignor Keith and to Gill for their gracious hospitality. For Archbishop Bernard, for journeying with me and actually even turning up at the railway station to show me the way – so, that’s really quite literally showing me the way - thank you very much indeed. To so many of the clergy in the Ordinariate whom I have known previously for many years, and it is very good to see so many here today.

You will have seen various interviews and pieces of writing from my side about why I have done this, and so very briefly to say – well, there are many reasons, of course, I don’t want to give them all - but: first of all, to belong to a church where decisions that affect everyone are actually made effective in the whole Church, where decisions stick; secondly, where there is a clear body of teaching to which appeal can be made when that is necessary to do; and thirdly, where there is an adequate sufficient teaching authority to guide the faithful in matters that are contentious in this culture or that. Cardinal Nichols, of course, alluded to this in his homily.

So those are the reasons for ‘why’, and then some may ask – some have asked – “Why in this way?” Why the Ordinariate way? And, of course, the reason there is that, although I have experienced certain lacks in the Anglican Communion, which the Catholic Church makes up,... again, as that wonderful prayer said so eloquently... but equally, there are gifts that the Anglican tradition has to offer the wider Church. You have experienced some of those gifts this afternoon. But, I would say ‘yes’, the beauty of worship. Whatever else Archbishop Cranmer’s gifts may or may not have been, I think beauty of language was certainly one of them, and I commend such beauty to our liturgists today. It is not always a gift that is found among them in recent years, may I say. Secondly, an approach to the study of the Bible that is inductive, historical and devotional at the same time. Thirdly, an approach to ministry that recognizes the wider community and is not simply restricted to the congregation. There are other things more difficult to define and approach: to moral thinking for instance, which has developed not just out of the needs of the confessional but of a wider engagement with the community, and I think that can be valuable for the wider Church; the rich hymnody, tradition of hymnody to which, of course, Saint John Henry Newman contributed so magnificently, as we’ve already heard this afternoon.

So, that is why I’ve done it, and that is why I have done it in this way. Thank you for your love and your prayers and your patience. God bless you. 

1:58:00 video


Additional Screenshots
Click on Images to Enlarge

Litany of the Saints


Anointing

First Blessing: Cardinal Nichols

First Blessing: Archbishop Longley


Comments

Post a Comment

Your comments will be appreciated and posted if 1) they are on topic and 2) preserve decorum.

Stand by your word. Do not be anonymous. Use a pseudonym.

Popular Posts

Life At The Altar Rail: 22 Behaviours Categorized

-
Image
Cantius/NLM [ 4 min read ] Some communicants make things interesting (...tricky, delicate, awkward, awesome...) at The Communion. Now don't get the wrong idea. Spoofing one's brothers' and sisters' behaviour is not meant to be proof of one's own moral or spiritual superiority. There's always a need to keep in mind the heart of another when lampooning (or celebrating) the externals, as curious or as laudable as those externals might be. The Moving Target: either the head or the tongue is moving a mile a minute. A good patener knows how to tame the fidget. See also #18: The Rubberneck. The Obstacle Course: fingertips touching the chin or mouth making it difficult for the patener to place the paten beneath the chin. The Curtain: face is completely covered with a veil. The NOFB (Not Open For Business): closed eyes, closed mouth; despite the need for a gentle prompt, typically a deeply reverent person. The Taker: wants to steal the Host from the priest. Note to commu...
Read more

You Know You're In A Progressive Catholic Parish When... .

-
Image
... you rarely (if ever) hear the following phrases. "Party like it's A.D. 1570!" "We should sing more plainchant at this parish." "I'd like to thank the choir for their sublime rendition of the Mass For Five Voices by William Byrd." "I just love the way the four torchbearers process in with such dignity." "People treat the Host like a snack. I think it's time we went back to communion on the tongue." "My entire family goes to Confession every week." "We need a central Tabernacle on the altar." "The altar servers' lace cottas are so beautiful." "I just love Father Steve's sermons about the Real Presence and living a Eucharistic life." "People are leaving in droves for Saint Pius X Parish and the reverent Mass there. Do you think we're doing something wrong here at Harvey Milk Parish?" "I'm thrilled that the design for the new church includes a choir loft....
Read more

Review: Saint Gregory's Prayer Book

-
Image
Two copies of the St. Gregory's Prayer Book (SGPB) arrived a few days ago. It is a lovely work replete with beautiful devotions drawn from the English Patrimony. Both Ordinariate and diocesan Catholics would do well to acquire a copy to access its riches. The SGPB is "a collaborative venture" of the three personal ordinariates and the Anglicanorum Coetibus Society . A blurb from the Ignatius Press site where one can go to purchase copies: https://www.ignatius.com/St-Gregorys-Prayer-Book-P3228.aspx The St Gregory's Prayer Book is a beautifully produced leatherette prayer book compiled by the Ordinariates established by Pope Benedict XVI and drawing on the riches of the Anglican liturgical heritage and the exquisite Cranmerian language of the Book of Common Prayer to further enrich the panoply of Catholic liturgy and devotion. The text includes ancient English collects, introits and hymns available together for the first time for the whole Church...
Read more

You know you're a REAL altar server when... .

-
Image
In a movie theatre, you genuflect before entering the aisle to take a seat. Riding a bus, sitting in class or at the doctor's office, and/or when watching TV, you rest your hands palms down on your thighs, finger tips at your knees. You can identify each and every variety of incense used in the Mass simply by its scent. You habitually wear black socks and black dress shoes... even when wearing shorts for gym class or at the beach. You turn a perfect right angle when entering a building. You have nightmares about serving Mass at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. You hear a bicycle bell ring and you drop to your knees. You can't resist the urge to lift a curtain from the bottom. You have a copy of Ceremonies of the Roman Rite Described by Adrian Fortescue on your smartphone for recreational reading. You have a copy of Ritual Notes (11th Edition) on your smartphone for recreational reading. As a torchbearer, you can carry a processional candle without spilling one dr...
Read more

TRUE PARTICIPATION IN THE MASS

"I was gathered into the offering of the Son to the Father. I participated in the self-offering of God today."
Every effort is made herein this blog to conform to the teaching of the Church - Quod ubique, quod semper, quod ab omnibus creditum est. Comments are welcome.