The Month of August is dedicated to the Pure and Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Mass commemorating this devotion is celebrated on August 22.

Pope Pius XII solemnly consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart in 1942, on the Vigil of All Saints, in accordance with the wish of Our Holy Mother who had appeared on May 13, 1917 to three shepherd children at Fatima (Portugal) and on the same day of the month during the succeeding five months.

She conveyed the wishes of her Divine Son that devotion be fostered to her Immaculate Heart. Our Lady further revealed that she was the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary and desired this devotion to be frequently and fervently practiced. The Pope added the new feast of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary to the universal calendar in 1945.

When the post council changes are recalled most will refer to the changes in the Mass from that which today is called the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite to the Mass of Paul VI.

However, the changes encompassed all aspects of sacred liturgy.

Indeed in 1961, a year ahead of Saint John XXIII's edition of the Missal becoming the Editio Iuxta Typicam and before the wholesale changes resulting in the Mass of Paul VI, the Roman Breviary or Breviarium Romanum was subject considerable reform and eventually even this final pre-council but none the less already reformed edition of the Divine Office gave way to the Liturgy of the Hours approved by Paul VI in the Apostolic Constitution The Canticle of Praise or Laudis Canticum in November 1970.

Over at Rotate Cæli, there is an interesting article which gives some insight into the transitional changes applied to the Breviary and particularly the Psalter. Click here to view what is a very interesting post.

This Sunday's Mass emphasizes the theme that the great lesson of history is that men do not profit by its lessons.

The Epistle describes the history of the many evils that befell the ancient Jew after his rejection of the True God and his worship of the flesh. At the same time it comforts us that there is a distinction between temptation and sin, and that temptation is only the test of character, for "God is my helper" (Introit), Who will "save the humble people" (Offertory) that "hopeth in Him " (Communion).

The Gospel depicts a pathetic picture of Jesus weeping over Jerusalem. "If thou hadst known." It tells of the Jews" defilement of God's house, of their future  destruction as a chosen race. As for me, I must learn from the Epistle which was "written for our correction."

If our prayers deserve to be heard, we must learn to "ask only for those things pleasing to God" (Prayer). We must be Christians of lively faith and learn to see "His Name in the whole earth" (Gradual); praying Him to defend us from enemies that would destroy His Name on earth or His image in our soul. Finally, if we learn to "eat" His Flesh worthily now (Communion), we shall one day learn that His Judgments are sweet (Offertory).

Commemorated in the Mass is Feast of St. Anne, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Mass for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost will take place at St David's, Pantasaph at 5.40pm on Sunday 26th July.

Today, Dr. Joseph Shaw publishes the 26th in the series of Position Papers he has prepared for the Foederatio Internationalis Una Voce (FIUV), on the subject of the contribution which can be made by the Traditional Mass to the Evangelisation of men.

Dr. Shaw expands a little further on his blog here.

The next paper, with a target publication during August, is on the concepts of Tradition, Restoration, and Reform.

The 26th Paper can be downloaded here.

All 26 papers in a consolidated PDF file can be downloaded here.

At Shrine Church of Ss Peter & Paul and St Philomena, New Brighton - a.k.a. The Dome of Home, the feast of their third named patron, St Philomena is celebrated annually on or about her feast day which is August 11th.

This year, it will be celebrated as an External Solemnity on Sunday 9th August. The celebrant at the 10.3oam Mass will be the Right Reverend Mark Davies, the Bishop of Shrewbury.

Ss Peter & Paul and St Philomena stands authoritatively on the North Eastern Wirral coastline and lay unused for a number of years after closure in 2008.

Bishop Davies, having assumed care for Dioecesis Salopiensis in 2010, made a remarkable and most commendable decision to re-open the church.

This came to fruition in 2012 and the care of the shrine is now left in the competent hands of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest.

The Bishop designated the 'Dome of Home' as a centre for devotion to the Most Blessed Sacrament through Eucharistic Adoration. Mass in the Usus Antiquior is offered daily and all the other Sacraments using the older liturgical books are available.

Saint Philomena came to be a patron of the church, through Father Thomas Mullins. He had served as Parish Priest from 1909 to 1945 and was instrumental in its construction. Father had a great devotion to Saint Philomena and so her patronage was added to the church title but this was removed at some point. Bishop Davies restored this upon the re-opening.

The church now flourishes once again with renovation works making good progress. That authoritative presence now stands as proud today as it did when it was built.

If you want to keep your Missal, Breviary or devotional prayerbook in good condition then read on.

I believe that Leather Missal Covers is a relatively new venture. The beautiful bespoke hand made missal covers are made by a traditional Catholic family.

I have purchased volume produced covers in the past and whilst they serve a purpose, they are far from the quality that these products offer.

I have just had delivered a real leather cover for my copy of Divine Intimacy and I am extremely pleased

Visit http://leathermissalcovers.co.uk for more information.

The Holy Mass of this Sunday places before us the Christian's use or abuse of "goods," either of human nature or of Divine grace.

The Introit recalls that as we now receive "Mercy," yet one day we must stand before "Justice." How necessary then the "Prayer" for "doing and thinking" what is right.

Active participation in the Mass, advised Pope St. Pius X, is the indispensable source of the true Christian spirit, how to pray and how to live.

The Epistle bids us reflect who you are, "not debtors to the flesh," by which "you shall die"; but "sons of God, joint heirs with Christ," by Whom you shall live. T

The Gospel dramatizes this dignity and duty in the parable of the Steward, the meaning of which is "be wise," you children of God; use material treasures so as to make eternal friends; exercise your talents in the spiritual and corporal works of mercy, and  those whom you help to save will help save you.

Finally, the Offertory assures salvation to the humble, warns the proud of their final humbling. Christianity is not so much a "giving up" but rather an "exchange" of "gifts" (Secret), the human for the Divine, to bring healing to "soul and body" Postcommunion.

Today is Feast of St. Vincent de Paul C., Special Patron of charitable associations, who helped the sick and poor and founded the Sisters of Charity. Although not commemorated in Masses using the 1962 Missal, we ought to take great example and resolve to help somebody less fortunate through act or prayer.

St Catherine's Trust Summer School 2015 26 July to 2 August 2015 (Sunday to Sunday) at the the Franciscan Retreat Centre at Pantasaph, in North Wales (Click here for information about the LMS Residential Latin Course which runs concurrently) There is NO FIXED FEE The St Catherine’s Trust Summer School is back this Summer, at a new venue: the Franciscan Retreat Centre at Pantasaph CH8 8PE, in North Wales, for the week 26 July to 2 August 2015.

Pantasaph is very well-connected by road and rail, being a few minutes away from the railway station at Flint, and close to the motorway network. It is near Holywell, which many will know as the only Medieval Shrine to survive the Reformation, and for many years one of the Latin Mass Society’s biggest annual Pilgrimages.

Alongside the Summer School the Latin Mass Society Latin Course for adults will be taking place (see below for more details). Accommodation at the Retreat Centre is limited, so the Latin Course participants will be staying at the Pilgrims’ Guest House in Holywell.

The Retreat Centre has a Pugin Chapel, flexible facilities, and lovely grounds. It is a delight that St Catherines Trust was able to secure the venue for their Summer School, and we all hope it will be a long-term home for this important event.

The Summer School makes it possible for Catholic children to experience a week of Catholic teaching, in a wide range of subjects, from our enthusiastic volunteer staff, in the context of the Traditional Liturgy. This is an experience which is wholly unique, and is an invaluable supplement to both homeschooling and conventional schooling.

There will be daily sung Mass, with singing of the highest standard, and sung Compline each evening. There will be an outing to a local place of interest, and visiting speakers, outside activities, the perennially popular sewing group and a staged reading of a play.

St Catherines Trust is a beneficiary of the Latin Mass Society. Under normal circumstances the school would cost about £250 per pupil to run, but as the Latin Mass Society sponsors the event, there are no fixed fees. Parents and guardians are invited to pay what they can afford. Please take advantage of this tremendous opportunity!

For more information please contact the St Catherine's Trust.

You may recall that I recently posted a blog on the 30 minute documentary produced by my friend and fellow LMS Committee Member, Stefano Mazzeo.

Well it aired on EWTN back in May and was a wonderful encapsulation of this historic three-day walk from Notre-Dame de Paris to Notre-Dame de Chartres, approximately 70 miles south west of the French capital.

It was a shame it was restricted to 30 minutes!

For those of you who wish to keep a copy of the documentary, Stefano has advised me that EWTN's English and Irish subsidiary, St Clare Media, have now made it available to purchase in DVD format.

It costs £9.95 - to purchase click here:  UK Europe DVD of The Chartres Pilgrimage or by post from Holy Cross Bookshop, 4 Brownhill Road, SE6 2EJ. Tel: 0203 4418240

There are a number of changes over the next few weeks to the Wrexham Mass timetable and unlike the usual effect that the annual leave season brings about, I am actually pleased to say we have more Masses in the Usus Antiquior to report!

For example a full week of Mass at Pantasaph during the St Catherine's Trust Summer School and a pilgrimage to Wrexham Cathedral in August!

I have created an A5 size PDF file that you may find useful to ensure you are in the right place at the right time! Click here to download.

Yesterday, Roberto de Mattei, Professor of Modern History and Christian History at the European University in Rome delivered an address to the LMS AGM at Westminster. I only made the briefest of notes hoping that at some point it may be published either online or perhaps in the Society quarterly journal Mass of Ages.

Titled, The importance of Tradition in our times'  de Mattei beautifully and with sound evidential reference conveyed that the truth cannot be manipulated.

In March, H.E. Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke gave a talk in Chester.  I found great symmetry in both addresses.

In essence, de Mattei conveyed the entirely correct assertion that the Holy Mother Church cannot be fanciful and change belief and teaching to satisfy any particular moment in time - very poignant at this moment as we approach the second sitting of the Synod on the Family.

As mentioned, I hope that somewhere a transcript will appear.

On Friday a requiem for Michael Davies was celebrated by Fr Tim Finigan in the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and St Gregory, Warwick Street.

The Mass was accompanied with music by Cantus Magnus, under the direction of Matthew Schellhorn, (who incidentally as of yesterday became a co-opted member of the LMS committee).

After Mass, the address was also been given by de Mattei on the occasion of the Michael Davies Memorial Lecture. The Lecture was chaired by Adrian Davies, Michael's son.

His lecture was entitled 'From the Second Vatican Council to the Synod: The Teaching of Michael Davies'. Over at Rorate Caeli, the lecture has been captured, you can read it here.

The Pentecostal Season is well on its way with the twelve “fruits” of the Holy Spirit. Hence, as summer also advances toward the harvest, today’s Holy Mass has a timely lesson, observed by Jesus from fruit trees.

The Introit is a call to prayer, yes, but a call to prayer followed by Catholic Action. It bespeaks “the voice of joy,” yes, but also counsels “clap your hands,” which in ancient times signified not only to praise a person by the tongue but to work for him with the hands. Since if all the tree’s life goes into the wagging tongues of waving leaves, how can there be any fruit? Deeds, not mere words, are acceptable to God and are the best kind of example to neighbour.

“The fruit” of sin is shame and death (Epistle), while the fruit of sanctity is life everlasting. “By their fruits” shall you know false teachers of false Christians (Gospel).

Not so much what one “says” about the Lord, but he who “does” His Will, brings forth good fruit. The Holy Eucharist is t h e “ health giving ” (Postcommunion) fruit of Calvary, to counteract the poison laden “Dead Sea” fruit of the world.

The 12th July is Feast of St. John Gualbert Abbot of the tenth century who forgave the murderer of his brother, became a monk, and founded in Tuscany a new order using the Rule of St. Benedict. Although the 1962 Missal does not commemorate feasts on Sunday, perhaps we would do well to pray to St. John for the ability to forgive those who hate us.

Low Mass for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost will take place at 12:30pm  at St Francis of Assisi Church, Llay Chain, Llay.

The Society's Annual General Meeting will be held in Westminster Cathedral Hall, Ambrosden Avenue, London SW1P 1QH at 11.00am.

The guest speaker will be Prof. Roberto de Mattei, on 'The importance of Tradition in our times'.

This will be followed by High Mass in the Cathedral at 2.00pm, celebrated by The Rt Rev. Mark Jabalé O.S.B., Emeritus Bishop of Menevia.

The timetable is as follows:

AGM in Westminster Cathedral Hall, Ambrosden Avenue, London SW1P 1QW.

10.30am Doors open

11.00am AGM (you must be an LMS member to be present at the AGM).

This will be followed by a buffet lunch, which will be provided for all paid-up LMS members. There is a nominal charge of £5 per person and this MUST be booked in advance. To do so, please complete the BOOKING FORM here, and make payment here.