This series of instructional videos is based on lessons in the Light of the World books. We hope that pupils at our primary school, the Junior Oratory and our many Catholic families will find them useful in helping them to learn more about our holy Catholic Faith. Videos 1. God 2. Our Lady 3. The Blessed Trinity 4. [...]
"…the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear…" The disciples were afraid they were going to suffer like the Master Himself had suffered, so they locked themselves away, petrified. Then miraculously, Christ stands among them, reassuring them with the breath of the Holy Spirit that He is truly risen, truly alive. In the present [...]
This sermon was preached at the solemn Mass on Easter Sunday, which can be viewed here. Towards the end of Evelyn Waugh’s novel Brideshead Revisited, there’s a scene where Cordelia describes the deconsecration of the Marchmain family chapel. Having removed the Blessed Sacrament and the altar stone, the priest: … emptied the holy-water stoup and blew out the lamp in [...]
Dear Parishioners and Friends, We hope that you are all in good health and virus-free! It pains us that, for the first time since the foundation of the Oratory here in Birmingham, we are not able to celebrate the ceremonies of Holy Week together. As we all know, participating in the Sacred Triduum is a great source of spiritual renewal [...]
The Fathers and Brothers of the Oratory are praying for all parishioners and worshippers at the Oratory, especially this Holy Week. Let us not forget those who are suffering the most at this time, those who have lost loved ones, and those who work in frontline positions. Whilst on 'lockdown', let us take the opportunity to sanctify our homes, [...]
When we are unable to receive Holy Communion sacramentally, we may still make an act of Spiritual Communion. Saint Thomas describes this as 'an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Holy Sacrament, and a loving embrace as though we had already received Him.' The prayers given below are one way of expressing this desire. The Confiteor I [...]
Read our full Coronavirus measures Watch Mass live With the public celebration of Mass tragically suspended, we feel that a darkness has come over the Church. We know that it is a temporary darkness. It will pass. Nevertheless, we also know how bereft God's people are feeling. For reasons which at the moment seem beyond our control, the Lord [...]
"Honour thy father and thy mother." In the practice of our religion our blood family has first call on our commitment, but not in an absolute or unqualified way. There is a danger of making a false god out of family life, thinking that the immediate family is all that matters. We can be so self-engrossed in our own natural [...]
