I have been the LMS representative in the diocese of Wrexham for nearly 10 years, I was appointed in April 2013. For most of those years I have also performed as a trustee and Secretary of the Society and my second term as Secretary ended following the Annual General Meeting at the end of July.

Locally in the Diocese of Wrexham, the situation following Covid-19 and Traditionis custodes has not seen a resumption of the very few Masses that were celebrated before.

We were very grateful for monthly Sunday Masses at Llay and Holywell and a First Saturday Mass at Buckley and additionally the annual pilgrimage Masses to Holywell and Wrexham.

My attempts to get things back to how they were have been documented in Mass of Ages. It is most disconcerting that absolutely no reach out to those devoted to Usus Antiquior has been forthcoming from the Diocese.

Consequently, I have given much thought and prayer to my own efficacy and Raison d'être. It is clear to me that the current parameters mean that I hold a title without function/activity and therefore I have informed the Committee that they should not consider reappointing me when every representative appointment is reviewed at the September committee meeting.

If any LMS member wishes to succeed me then make yourself known! You can contact the Society on [email protected]

Finally, I would like to thank Canon Francis Doyle and Canon Bernard Lordan for their dedication to the ancient liturgy during my tenure.

The Mass of this Sunday recalls the great Commandment, “Thou shalt love the Lord, thy God, with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind, and thy neighbour as thyself.”

 The parable of the Good Samaritan encapsulates the history of mankind as well as our own personal lives into a few simple words. The man coming down to Jericho represents Adam and therefore each of us. From the spiritual realms, we descend to worldly realms. Adam left Paradise and entered the worldly life symbolized by Jericho. On the way down, we have fallen among robbers — the devils.

The robbers first stripped the man of his garments; the devils first strip men of their spiritual garments. They first lead us to question God, to doubt the true Faith. Once the garment of the faith is removed the devils find no obstacles to prevent them from inflicting harm upon us. Adam was first stripped of the true faith because he preferred to listen to his wife rather than God. Eve was first stripped of the true faith because she preferred to listen to the serpent rather than God and Adam. Once deprived of spiritual life, it was nothing for the devils to take away the physical life. Adam had freely chosen death; the moment he chose not to listen to God. Each time we individually sin we renew within ourselves the suicidal choice of Adam.

With the sin of Adam, he and all mankind were left to die by the robbers/devils. The Law and the Prophets both passed by, unwilling or unable to give any help. The Law and Prophets only served to further condemn us. That which is forbidden only arouses the desire to do what is forbidden. Without the garment of faith and grace, we become incapable of improving our lot, but only make matters worse with every attempt. The sick person seldom knows or does what is best for his health. He often seeks relief of his pain, only to end up making matters worse than before. This is the case of mankind and the case of every sinner. The sick person needs the physician to diagnose the problem, determine a course of action and to implement it — because he cannot clearly see his own malady or what is truly in his best interest.

The Divine Physician is revealed to us in today's parable as the Good Samaritan. Jesus Christ is the Good Samaritan — Who has come along and taken pity upon us. He has bound our wounds, poured on oil and vinegar. The curative medicines that the Samaritan administered symbolise to us the Words of Christ. If we will only allow the Words of God to touch us, they will heal us. The binding of the wounds may be painful, the pouring on of vinegar will be painful, but the oil will soothe and help to heal us. Some of the Words of God are painful and sting us, while other Words of God soothe and heal our souls.

The Samaritan does not stop here. He raises the poor man upon his own beast and takes him to an inn. Christ is, likewise, not content just to apply the healing remedies, but He takes us spiritually upon Himself and carries us to the inn. The Fathers of the Church tell us that the inn represents the Church. Jesus Christ brings us to the Church. In the morning (after the Resurrection), Jesus entrusts us to the inn-keeper promising to repay the inn-keeper whatever he spends, in the care of us, upon His return. We are entrusted to the Church hierarchy who shall be repaid for all their efforts for our cure when Christ returns at the end of time.

This is what Jesus has done for all of mankind, and this is what Jesus has done for each of us individually. What is left for us, is simply to not resist; and to follow the prescription of the Divine Physician. We must not fear the cross and painful cures that our disease of sin makes necessary. Instead of wincing and turning away from the stinging cleansing and purging, we should welcome them. If we welcome these, then we will soon discover the soothing healing oil being poured upon us. Our crosses will be made sweet and joyful. Our burden will become light as Christ picks us up and carries us. Once we find ourselves at the inn (The Church), we must not turn away or refuse the inn-keeper (the true clergy). It is true that they are not Jesus, but they are His representatives and He has entrusted us to them. We must allow them to continue the cleansing and purging that are necessary for our healing. They will apply the curative Word of God to our souls. Sometimes it will cause a sting of pain or hurt; but if we realize this is what God has given the Church to do and that it is for our own good; then, we will welcome it. And from time to time our souls will be soothed and filled with the gladness of the Word of God, as the Church pours on the healing oils.
 
Sunday 28th August is the Feast Day of St. Augustine E. C. D. Though using the 1962 missal rubrics his feast is not commemorated, he is one of the most important Fathers of the Church. In the ancient Church catechumens attending Mass left after the sermon, were not permitted to stay for the Canon, which was revered as a great mystery, unlike to-day, where it has become routine. At least once, St. Augustine advised the Faithful, after departure of the catechumens, to be careful to invite only persons seeking Our Lord and believing in His Church and Teachings, not opportunists, who wished to join the Church to update their social status or some such unholy reason. Other secular organisations do the same, admitting candidates through a series of degrees, and only after a period of time and study.

The liturgy of this Sunday begins three Sundays stressing the Sacraments necessary for salvation. This Sunday emphasises Baptism and Holy Eucharist.

We reflect upon the fact in the Introit that the Church is actually the dwelling place of God. It is here that “He shall give power and strength to His people.” Only in the church, and strengthened by the Sacraments of Holy Eucharist and Penance in particular, can we gain strength to withstand the onslaught of the World, the Flesh and the Devil.

The Epistle renews our faith in the doctrines of the Catholic Church. St. Paul lists proofs for the Resurrection of Our Lord from the dead. St. Paul recalls his own Baptism wherein he received the Grace of the Sacrament. The joy of our own Baptism is recalled in the Gradual and Alleluia of the Mass.

The Gospel emphasises that we are spiritually deaf and dumb and need the graces of God through the Sacraments of Baptism and the Holy Eucharist to open our ears to the eachings of Christ and then use our
tongue to spread His Word. The Church since earliest times has used this Gospel as a symbol of Baptism.  By extension the Holy Eucharist continues what Baptism initiated.

Sunday 21st August is the Feast of St, Jane Frances Fremiot de Chantal who devoted herself to God following the death of her husband with the assistance of St. Francis de Sales and founded the Order of the Visitation in XVII Century France. Although not commemorated in the Mass using the 1962 book, pray today for restoration of our religious orders.

Sunday 14th August might be regarded as “Mercy Sunday” as the liturgy shows us how humility and penitence on the part of man brings forgiveness from God.
 
Sin cuts off the flow of Divine Graces to the soul. Pride, the basis of all sin, turns us into devils. Humility makes us the friend of God again. The Introit reminds us that God hears our “voice” when we are humble. The Collect reflects the sentiment that God shows “mercy and pity” in exercising His Power. It is a matter of serious reflection that the Epistle warns us that the Holy Ghost will enter only into the soul of the humble person.
 
Rather than attempting to do things on our own, without the help of God we should implore Him to “Keep me, O Lord, as the apple of Thy eye; protect me under the shadow of Thy wings.” (Gradual). The Gospel gives Our Lord’s own views on the subject of humility: “everyone who exalteth himself shall be humbled, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” With all the science of today, most people in the world live as atheists, having as Satan told Adam and Eve the attributes to “be like God, knowing good and evil,” which is only an arrogant manner of saying as Satan did “I will not serve” rather than humbling oneself and accepting the teachings of Our Lord.
 
The Offertory is our plea for God to intervene and keep our enemies at bay who try to prevent us from following the teachings of Our Lord. The Secret reminds us that the gifts being offered first came from God, and that we are but returning them. At Communion time we should remind ourselves of the humility of the publican so ashamed of his weakness and sinfulness. Rather than raise his eyes to Heaven he merely struck his breast and said: “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.”
 
The Postcommunion reminds us that our strength comes from humble reception of the “Holy Sacraments.”

Assumption of the Virgin Mary

Nothing is said of the Vigil of the Assumption in the Liturgy today, the feast itself begins with first Vespers later on Sunday.

Although the fact of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, body and soul, into heaven following her death was believed by most Cathol ics in accordance with tradition, Pope Pius XII proclaimed the doctrine Ex Cathedra on November 1, 1950 and obligated all Catholics to believe the doctrine as a part of the Faith. The Assumption was the reward of Our Lord to His Immaculate Mother Mary and ensured that her pure and virginal body, which had borne the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, might not suffer corruption.

This Sunday's Mass emphasises 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).

Today is Feast of St. Cajetan C., founder of the Theatines, devoted to total confidence in God for all needs. He was regarded as “hunter of souls,” an angel at the altar, who passed away in 1547 at Naples on this day. Commemorated in the Mass is St. Donatus E. M., Bishop of Tuscany, and beheaded for the Faith in 361. Although not commemorated in the Mass using the 1962 Missal, pray to the Saints for strength to maintain your Catholic Faith!