Rosary Crusade of Reparation

Fr. Tim Finigan of The Hermaneutic of Continuity reports on yesterday's Rosary Crusade of Reparation at the Brompton Oratory in London:

The Rosary Crusade of Reparation yesterday was an overwhelming expression of Catholic devotion in the heart of London. About 2,000 people walked in procession from Westminster Cathedral to the London Oratory, saying the Rosary and singing hymns. The Metropolitan Police ably escorted the procession, stopping the traffic at the various junctions and clearing the roads as the throng of people wound their way past the embassies in Belgravia and the chic shops of Sloane Street. Chanel, Prada, Christian Dior, Gucci, Hermes and Versace all gazed at Our Lady of Fatima, then Harvey Nichols and Harrods where the anti-fur campaigners were briefly drowned out by the Ave Maria.

***
After Benediction, we processed to the Lady Chapel where the Salve Regina was sung. And I mean sung! It was a moment to warm the heart of any good Catholic. About 2,000 people, kept in time by the splendid organ, bellowing out this ancient chant in Latin, honouring our Blessed Mother with their full hearts and voices.

This occasion must rank as one of the most splendid manifestations of Catholic faith in our country in recent years.

[More]

Here's the text of Fr. Finigan's sermon for yesterday's Rosary Crusade:

Who is she that comes forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in battle array? (Song 6.10)

At the visitation, St Elizabeth and the pre-born John the Baptist rejoiced in the presence of Jesus Christ, then an embryo of a few days. St Elizabeth also showed respect to our Lady: “Why should I be honoured with a visit from the Mother of my Lord?” Our Blessed Mother’s immediate response was to use this prayer as a direct channel for the praise of God. “My soul magnifies the Lord...”

She is ever the same. She is a most sure route to our Blessed Lord “To Jesus through Mary” is the unfailing path of our prayers. If we think of the miracle of the sun, and the 70,000 people there including atheists, freemasons and communists, awed by her power with God, we should have a great confidence and trust in the intercession of Our Blessed Lady, the Mediatrix of all graces.

[More]

And here, Fr. Finigan writes about the "daunting experience" of preaching in the Oratory.

Joanna Bogle describes her experience at the Rosary Crusade here:

I love the way Brompton Oratory stands looking secure and sort of reliable, in the Brompton Road next to the Victoria and Albert Museum and with that lovely row of trees - today with just the merest hint of Autumn russet promise. Mother and I enjoyed coffee and cake in the small Italian cafe almost opposite the Oratory, and then went to watch the Rosary Procession arrive....they came at a measured pace down past Harrods, with a great Cross in front, and then clergy and altar servers and chaps (incl Jamie) in their robes, and a good crowd of people (a good social and racial mix - at a guess I'd say white middle class would be a smallish minority within it!), with small girls in white dresses scattering petals, and a statue of Our Lady borne aloft by burly members of the Catholic Police Guild wearing blue sashes....all most satisfactory, and as they approached the church and the group broke into sections to move inside, Fr Tim Finigan saw Mother and me and raised his biretta which we thought v. nice. Inside, the vast church looked magnificent with candles glittering on the altar, and soon became packed, with small children sitting cross-legged on the floor in comfortable corners, and people squeezing hospitably along seats to offer room for "just one more". We sang all the wonderful old hymns, and it was a glorious sound. Fr Tim preached about Our Lady, quoting Archp Fulton Sheen on the subject of Fatima - Mary is some one the Moslems honour, and so she can lead them to Christ. She does that with everyone, and this is the way forward. But we must all do our part, and renewal involves many important things: more people seeking mercy and forgiveness through Confession, commitment to daily prayer, an inspired liturgy......

During Benediction we said the Prayer for England, and I found my throat went tight when we got to the words "look down in mercy, upon England, thy dowry....."

UPDATE (16 October 2006)
Joee Blogs of A Catholic Londoner videotaped the Rosary Crusade procession and placed the video on his blog.