11th October 2008

 

For the 24th year, Catholics took to the streets of London to proclaim their devotion to the Mother of God during the Rosary Crusade of Reparation.  Nearly three thousand faithful thronged the route from Westminster Cathedral to Brompton Oratory as the four foot high statue of Our Lady of Fatima, blessed by Pope Pius XII, was carried by members of the Catholic Police Guild in a manner fit for a queen.

This year’s Crusade had as a special theme the defeat of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill which, amongst other things contrary to Divine Law and Church teaching, would allow the creation of human/animal hybrid embryos.

Traffic was brought to a halt in Vauxhall Bridge Road, Buckingham Palace Road, Sloane Street and along the Brompton Road by the Metropolitan Police Service to make way for the Queen of Heaven and her army of followers.  Hearkening back to bygone days when mighty Catholic processions brought towns and villages to a halt, the Rosary Crusade proclaimed the Faith in the heart of London. 

At the Oratory, Fr Ronald Creighton-Jobe, Spiritual Director of the Crusade, welcomed the huge congregation before leading them in prayers and hymns to Our Lady. This was followed by Solemn Benediction, in Latin.  Finally, as the priests and servers made their way to the sacristy, the Crusade ended with the rousing Faber hymn, so appropriate in Faber’s church, “Faith of Our Fathers.”