On December 15, 2017, Fr Philip Cleevely made the following chapter address to the community. Although in one sense, writes Fr Faber, the Church remains always the same, because her divine life is continuous, in another sense she differs from her own past appearances very materially. And this must necessarily Read more…
On November 17, 2017, Fr Derek Cross made the following chapter address to the community. My dear Fathers and Brothers: We have been reading, once again, in refectory Sheridan Gilley’s Newman and His Age. Although I once read the book myself and also have heard it read aloud previously, this Read more…
On March 18, 2016, Fr Philip Cleevely made the following chapter address to the community. When we turn from prayer in order to attend to the needs of others, St Philip speaks of leaving Christ for Christ. What this means, he explains, is that we deprive ourselves of spiritual sweetness Read more…
On May 1, 2015, Fr Jonathan Robinson, the Provost, made the following chapter address to the community. My dear Fathers and Brothers: May always seems to be a more difficult month than we anticipate. We all know this at one level, but it often comes as a surprise to find Read more…
On February 6, 2015, Fr Jonathan Robinson, the Provost, made the following chapter address to the community. My dear Fathers and Brothers: There is a story of someone who left the London Oratory because, he is reported to have said, it was Carthusianism with night prayers thrown in; and that Read more…
On December 5, 2014, Fr Philip Cleevely made the following chapter address to the community. I think one of the most striking of the maxims which St Philip gives us is for July 6th: ‘Let us pray God, if He gives us any virtue or gift, to keep it hidden Read more…
On November 24, 2014, Fr Jonathan Robinson, the Provost, made the following chapter address to the community. My dear Fathers and Brothers: In the Excellences there is a passage contrasting two sort of Oratorians. One is the more stay at home sort, who is occupied with prayer and study, and Read more…
On September 19, 2014, Fr Jonathan Robinson, the Provost, made the following chapter address to the community. My dear Fathers and Brothers: I want, this morning, to return to some of the things I said at the clothing of Brother Francis. Some of you might remember that I was concerned Read more…
On March 21, 2014, Fr Jonathan Robinson, the Provost, made the following chapter address to the community. My dear Fathers and Brothers: I have been talking about the role obedience plays in Oratorian life, and today I want to finish up with the topic for the time being. Writing these Read more…
On February 21, 2014, Fr Jonathan Robinson, the Provost, made the following chapter address to the community. My dear fathers and brothers: Fr Newman said that to live is to change. While Fr Faber said that all change is for the worse, even when it is change for the better. Read more…