Do they know something we don't?

I've had an email.

Dear Amazon.com Customer,

We've noticed that customers who have purchased or rated books by John Duns Scotus have also purchased "I Hate Hillary" by Thomas Williams. For this reason, you might like to know that "I Hate Hillary" will be released on April 1, 2008. You can pre-order yours by following the link below.

I Hate Hillary

Thomas Williams


Price: $8.95

Release Date: April 1, 2008

Summer Events

As usual there is a lot happening in the Summer; for various reasons there is more than usual. Here's a preview; not all the events are confirmed.

Weeks of the Oxford University Trinity Term are included for the convenience of University members.

1st Week: Saturday (26th April) Mass at St Anthony of Padua 3pm

2nd Week: Thursday (1st May), Sung, Ascension, Oratory 12.15

Friday (2nd May) First Friday: St Joseph the Worker:
SS Gregory and Augustine 6pm

5th Week: Thursday (22nd May), Sung, Corpus Christi, Oratory 12.15

Saturday (24th May), Chant Training Day: SS G&A from 9.30 am; Sung Mass at 3.30pm

6th Week: Saturday (31st May), Sung 11.30 at Mapledurham House, near Reading.

7th Week: First Friday (6th June), Sung, St Norbert, SS G&A 6pm

No abortions in Oxfordshire?

We read in the Oxford Mail: "An Oxfordshire councillor has complained about women having to travel outside the county for abortions. Cllr Dave King said he felt doctors working for the National Health Service should be required to provide abortion. A spokesman for Oxford hospitals said that some doctors working for the NHS in Oxfordshire had expressed objection to carrying out abortions, and the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Trust had contracted out abortions to the Marie Stopes organisation. The nearest clinics were in London and Reading, meaning that women travel out of the county. The latest statistics say that 80% of the abortions carried out on Oxfordshire women have taken place in Reading and London. [29 February]"

The John Radcliffe Hospital advertises its grim 'service' of 'early terminations', so the real complaint of Cllr King must be that not enough abortions are done in Oxfordshire, not that none are done here at all. Nevertheless, this is a good thing and long may it continue. The easier abortion seems, the more likely women are to resort to something which harms both them and their unborn children.

Sung Masses

The Oxford Gregorian Chant Schola has recently sung at a Mass in Dorchester-on-Thames; next Friday (7th March) they will be singing in SS Gregory and Augustine, at 6pm, for the regular First Friday Mass. Don't miss them!

Here are some highlights from the Dorchester Mass; see here for more.


Communion: Beata viscera

SS Gregory & Augustine study evening

On Tuesday 4th March, at 7.30 p.m. in church, there will be a study evening on the Traditional Latin Mass.

Fr John Saward will be explaining the structure of this older form of Holy Mass, the importance of liturgical Latin, the meaning of the ceremonies, the way in which we ‘actively participate’ in the action of the liturgy, the conventions concerning standing, kneeling etc., and the manner of receiving Holy Communion.

Southwell Books is bringing a bookstall to this event.

Sung Easter Triduum services in Reading

These will take place in St William of York, Upper Redlands Road, in Reading.

There are no Triduum Services in Oxford; Mass on Easter Sunday in the Oxford Oratory will as usual be Low, at 8am.

Maundy Thursday: Mass of the Lord's Supper, at 7.30pm

Good Friday Liturgy at 3.00pm;

with Stations of the Cross at 1.00pm

Easter Saturday: Easter Vigil at 8.00pm

(please note that there will also be
Mass on Easter Sunday at 12noon).

Sung Mass at Dorchester

The Oxford Gregorian Chant Society sang; there are several videos of the singing on the Schola's site, here.