Blessed Paul VI
For those of us who were nurtured in the Faith as Anglicans the beatification of Pope Paul VI is special. He seemed to have a particular regard and concern for the Anglican Communion. It was expressed by one short sentence in his homily for the canonisation of the Uganda Martyrs, part of which we read each year on their feast day, 3rd June.
Young witnesses to Christ: the Martyrs of Uganda
You will remember, perhaps, that among those young men killed during the years 1885-1887 were both Catholics and Anglicans. After speaking in his homily of the ancient Christian martyrs of Africa, to whom he was now adding St Charles Lwanga and his companions, Paul VI added:
Nor should we forget those others, of the Anglican Communion, who died for the sake of Christ.
We thank God today, as Pope Paul VI is beatified, for these words, so few but so rich in significance, which inspired many of us to continue longing and praying for the restoration of communion.
About Scott Anderson
Formerly an Anglican priest (ordained 1975) I was received into the Catholic Church in February 2012, and ordained to the Diaconate on 27th July 2013 and on 29th October 2013 was ordained to the priesthood by the Archbishop of Southwark Peter Smith. After a spell in London (Precious Blood, Borough) I became parish priest of Pont Rémy in the Diocese of Amiens, northern France.
I am deeply committed to the Ordinariate as a gift of the Holy Spirit in the search for unity. Like many Ordinariate members I feel a personal gratitude to the late Pope Benedict, together with loyalty to our Holy Father, Pope Leo. My blog tries to make a small contribution to the growth of the Ordinariate by asking questions (and proposing some answers) about the 'Anglican Patrimony'.
I shall be ever grateful for the years in France, a wonderful ending to the years of parish ministry. Back in the UK I am attached, very happily, to the parish of Holy Trinity, Dorchester (HTD) and help out where needed in the Catholic parishes of South Dorset.
