St Joan Of Arc Catholic Church | Catholic Church Farnham | Catholic Church Farnham Surrey | Mass times at St Joan of Arc Farnham

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Veneration

Normally, we only sing Marian Hymns at the end of Mass, a final anthem to Our Lady. The other psalms, chants and hymns express our worship of God. Today’s celebration of the Assumption allows us to sing additional Marian hymns but as Fr. Simon will be over in Heath End and Ash if you want to sing at all, you may need to form a small schola and sing ‘acapella’.

Catholics are criticised for our devotion to Mary, accused of worshiping her. The error stems from what is meant by ‘worship’. Some non-Catholics conflate singing hymns as worship (c.f. ‘praise and worship songs’). Worship (as adoration) is reserved only for God and Jesus told us how to worship: ‘Do this in memory of me’, so the chants of the Mass and Benediction (e.g. Psalms, Gloria, Sanctus) are ‘worship songs’. Other songs (e.g. hymns), especially when sung outside of Mass are ‘praise songs’, and a good thing to do! Even so, these songs must express a theology consistent with Scripture, the Creed, and the Ecumenical Councils of the Church.

Be careful not to narrow the meaning of the English Word ‘worship’. In older English, worship meant honour, dignity, reverence, esteem, or high respect, not just the ‘adoration’ due to God alone. This broader sense continues in titles like “Your Worship” for magistrates and mayors and no one thinks they are God! And so, we venerate Mary, not worshipping her with the adoration due to God alone. There is nothing controversial in this! Our respect comes from God himself, for when we say, ‘Hail Mary’ we use His greeting, the words His Messenger, the Angel Gabriel used when he asked for ‘Yes’ to being the ‘Mother of God’. On the cross, Jesus told the ‘beloved disciple’ to take Mary to his home, giving Mary Motherhood of the Church.

Annual Missionary Appeal – the Columban Missionaries: We welcome the Columban Missionaries to give the annual Missionary Appeal. While this priest celebrates our four Masses, Fr. Simon will celebrate Masses at Holy Family and Holy Angels so that Fr. Robin can have a holiday. The second collection is for their Missionary work. Please give by the collection baskets or via Dona. If you wish to Gift Aid your donation, you can give directly through the Columban Missionaries website: https://columbans.co.uk/how-you-can-help/donate/