Yesterday was a great day for the Cathedral, Lancaster Diocese and our new priest Fr Simon Marley and all his friends and family.
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| Fr Simon Marley at his First Mass |
Today Fr Simon celebrated his first Mass and was joined by four priests and Fr John acting as MC and offering support throughout, a reversal from previous weeks when Fr Simon as Deacon was serving and supporting Fr John and Fr Philip.
The homily focused on a very familiar sacramental of the incensing. There are so many things that happen during Mass that we can take for granted or not realise the importance of but sense they are important. Incensing is one such action. We incense the altar, the Gospel, the priest and the people.
The General Instruction § 276 Thurification or incensation is an expression of reverence and of prayer, as is signified in Sacred Scripture (cf. Ps 141 [140]:2; Rev 8:3).
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| Incensing during Mass - altar, priest and concelebrating priests |
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| Incensing the people |
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| Fr Simon Marley with Fr John Millar, Dean of Lancaster to his right |
At the end of Mass, Fr Simon reminded us all about the importance of praying for vocations and for those who are preparing for priesthood. As is the custom Fr Simon gave first blessings to those who had not been able to attend the ordination the previous day.
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| Fr Simon giving first blessing to one of the Cathedral Families |