I have just finished watching the Installation Mass of the Most Reverend Richard Moth. He is now the twelfth Archbishop of Westminster. Whoop! You can watch it over on Westminster Cathedral's YouTube channel.
I would have loved to have been at the cathedral but each parish in the archdiocese was only given two tickets so there was no chance of that.
Not being able to go was a shame. On the plus side, however, I was able to watch the proceedings from the comfort of my own home, and with a much better view than if I had been present at the event. This is probably why in 39 years of watching Formula 1 races I have never been to one; well, that and the prices, but that is another matter.
As for the installation, it went very smoothly. Whoever was responsible for organising it can give themselves a big pat on the back tonight. The installation (which you can see taking place above) was carried out with all due decorum, Archbishop Richard said all the right things in his homily, retiring archbishop Cardinal Vincent Nichols was given his due, and we had a few nice words spoken by the incoming Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally. The music was well done as well, though I have to admit I only really woke up to it when I heard Sweet Sacrament Divine and Praise to The Holiest in the Height.
Sweet Sacrament Divine is as beautiful as it is famous a hymn. Whenever I hear it, though, I always think of the first, wonderful, days of my Catholic life in Dundee, 1996-97. They were great days. I googled the hymn as it played and discovered to my happy surprise that it was written by an English priest, Fr. Francis Stanfield (1835-1914). Praise to the Holiest in the Height, as you may well already know, was written by John Henry Newman, so I needed no encouragement from anyone to sing along to it!
When I started writing this post, I wondered whether to describe the installation as having been carried out reverently, and I suppose it was, but I wish there could have been a bit more formality like ye olde days - yes, pre-Vatican II, a time when I wasn't even alive, let alone a Catholic, so what: More Latin. More ritual. This is just my personal taste, though. It was good as it was.
Or maybe not just mine. The bidding prayers were read by representatives of various groups within the Archdiocese. The young woman who read on behalf of the Westminster Youth Ministry was dressed all in white - as if she was there for her first communion - complete with a white lace veil. Very traditional. Her hands remained together in prayer the whole time and her voice had a softness to it that I think you only get when you live deeply, really deeply, within the freedom of your faith (and are given the grace to express it through your voice). Maybe this woman loves a folk Mass but even if she does, I bet she loves the Extra Ordinary Form more.
At the end of the Mass the title card below appeared on the screen. I have not seen the proclamation 'Habemus Ducem!' before. I presume it means 'We have a bishop!'. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to use it on this blog's home page!
All things being well, Archbishop Richard will be with us for at least eight years, perhaps thirteen, before he too retires at 80 (if the Pope lets him, I guess). Time to get praying that he may be a faithful and fruitful servant of the Lord in this London vineyard.
St. Methodius - pray for our archbishop
St. Valentine - pray for our archbishop
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