Thursday 2 January 2014

CHRISTMAS AT THE ORATORY, LARNE.

CHRISTMAS AT THE ORATORY LARNE

Rev. Dr. Martin Pulbrook

Christmas Day 2013
2.50pm

My dear Pat,

It's 2.50pm., and we have just finished our Christmas dinner. Before I go and fall asleep by the fire I just wanted to pen these few words to you.

I left this morning at 7 a.m, without in the end having breakfast. Everyone else seemed sound asleep, and I didn't want to risk waking anyone up by moving around in the kitchen. I stopped briefly at 8.30 at the Castlebellingham Service Area and got a coffee and a roll.

I find it difficult to put adequately into words the effect on me of the two Masses at The Oratory on the 22nd and 24th. So often in the mainstream the performance of ceremonies is formalaic and wooden, i.e non-spontaneous. But exactly the reverse is true in what you have managed to bring into effect at The Oratory: there is immediacy, complete sincerity, and spontaneity, and the result is simply overwhelming. Thank you for allowing me to be part of something that will be with me for the rest of my life.


I am greatly saddened by the fact that these massive positives that you have brought to things spiritual should be unfairly weighed down and counterbalanced by the inevitable negatives flowing from the recent case. 

It is time the public in general heard good things about you for a change, rather than bad and appalling things.


As a British citizen I am ashamed of my country's justice system.

As ever,

Dr Martin Pulbrook
Lecturer in Latin and Greek (Rtd)
Co. Westmeath

13 comments:

  1. Martin,

    Thank you for your contribution.

    It was a great pleasure for myself and The Oratory family to have you present with us.

    We look forward to your next visit.

    Pat

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bucko, do you honestly, seriously think anyone one is fooled by this self-serving crap of yours??? You are a wanker.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My Poor Friend,

      Is that the best you can offer?

      You sound like someone without love or meaning in your poor life.

      You are more to be pitied than resented.

      Bishop Pat

      Delete
  3. Hi Pat, I see that anonymous bollix is back again. Got any fly spray? As for Liturgy or Worship as the proddies call it-It is only Alive when all who take part actually believe in what they are doing. The proof of the puddin and all that.....Happy New Year. Sean &Clarice

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sean,

      There is not a strong enough fly spray for what is wrong with them.

      Its about turning a heart of stone into a heart of flesh. Only Jesus can do that.

      Pat

      Delete
  4. Pat,

    I am a young doctor in Norn Ireland who is HIV+

    I continue to be appalled by the ignorance of fellow medics about this virus.

    If some of the medics are so ignorant what can we expect of Mr and Mrs Joe Soap.

    Warm wishes,

    Dr

    ReplyDelete
  5. Dr,

    I am inclined to agree.

    But I think the ignorance is not as bad as it was?

    Pat

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am a member of the Oratory Society who attends Mass there. I experience acceptance, love and spiritual fulfillment. Thank you Pat for your service and sacrifice.

    ReplyDelete
  7. There’s a place that I know – you know, we could be

    Like shades on a screen –

    With you, whatever you’d need me to do

    I could do – and could forget what I mean



    With my hands in your hands I’d give up who I think that I am

    And if you come as a stranger to me I could lose who I am



    Do you feel it? Within and around us –

    There’s nothing to hear, and nothing to see,

    But here – just the flood of your hair to surround us,

    Just you, where a message might be.



    With your hands in my hands I’d give up who I think that I am

    And if you come as a stranger to me I could lose who I am.



    It’s a sad thing, a small thing to offer

    Not quite what you deserve me to be –

    This truth – I can’t need you so much as I need to

    Desire your desire in me.

    Friend of the Oratory Society

    ReplyDelete
  8. I rarely listen to anything the churches have to say anymore if i am honest. I just find them somewhat irrelevant and their attitude towards issues like homosexuality, contraception, abortion and so on too hostile and even bordering on offensive at times. I am sorry to see this your pain however. It does sound like the church really does need you and the good Dr above.

    Andy

    ReplyDelete
  9. For 2000 years the Christian church has made an enormous contribution to progress in terms of education, tolerance, human rights and social development. It would benefit mankind if the church could rediscover and reassert itself in an era of increasingly self-centered attitudes and materialistic values.

    Keep going Pat

    ReplyDelete
  10. I think this could be said for all religions. But we need to realize that there is a difference between Faith and Religion. Religion was made by man to control the masses, and like every thing needs to evolve, where faith has evolved over time, it is something that no man nor women can control, but ourselves! I feel the Church has a roll in society, to guide people to believe in themselves, FAITH

    Peter

    ReplyDelete