The Latin Mass Society AGM

 Lucy writes: It was a great joy to attend the LMS AGM this year. The friends I meet there I see very rarely, because most of us don't live in the capital: this year, we had the feeling of shipwreck survivors who have safely gained the shore as we greeted each other and exchanged news. 

Me making a burse during the AGM

Fr Whisenant's talk was excellent and paid tribute to the faithful attached to the Old Mass: he drew a comparison between the suppression of the Jesuits by Clement XIV and the suppression by Pope Francis of the Mass of Ages in Traditionis Custodes. 

Fr Whisenant at the podium

The High Mass afterwards, celebrated by Fr Whisenant, was attended by unusually large numbers, and I believe some of the congregation had never before come to an Old Mass. After the sufferings of our community in the weeks since Traditionis Custodes, it was so consoling to attend Mass together in our home cathedral: the atmosphere was extraordinarily prayerful, and I think everyone there felt the same. We were comforted and reassured not only by the presence of so many lovers of tradition, but by the deep spirituality of the Mass itself: it has the power to nourish and sustain us and will continue to do so as we continue the struggle to preserve it. 

Guild of St Clare, Oxford chapter: meetings resume

Fortnightly meetings of the Guild of St Clare's Oxford chapter have now resumed, and what a happiness it is to see each other again and sew together!

Clare Auty is an accomplished lace maker and is making 100 metres of lace to edge a mantilla

Clare's beautiful roller pillow

Not sure if Emma altogether approves of this internet lark

Emma's ecclesiastical embroidery sampler

If you'd like to join our meetings, email Lucy at lucyashaw@gmail.com. New members are always welcome!

Esteemed guest in the sewing room

Lucy writes: It's always a pleasure to have company in the sewing room: today I was joined by Sophie Carter, who has taught me so much over the last few years about her own specialism. Sophie is an elite long distance runner who has competed for England. Not long after I first met her, she came second in Race to the Stones, one of the UK's toughest endurance running events, a 100km route following the ancient Roman road along the Ridgeway: this year she has won the Newbury Racecourse Half Marathon only a year after giving birth to twin babies. Her undoubted talent linked to great strength of will are a remarkable illustration of what can be achieved when we test what seem to be the limits of our powers.

On a rare half-day off, Sophie sat down with me for some stitching R&R: she is making Luna Lapin, from CoolCrafting. Regular readers will know how big a fanbase of Luna we have here at the Guild of St Clare!