A DIARY OF EVENTS

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THE CONCLUDING EVENT IN THE YEAR OF JOHN DUNS SCOTUS

: Westminster Cathedral on 8th December 2008: The friars enter in procession

: The friars in places usually occupied by the Canons of Westminster

: The Minister Provincial delivers the homily

: The presiding Bishop with the Provincial and Vicar Provincial in the Cathedral Sacristy after the Mass

The seventh centenary of the death of the Blessed John Duns Scotus in 1308 has been celebrated throughout the world, but in a particular way in our Province to which he belonged. Some of these celebrations have been described and illustrated on our News pages.

The concluding event took place on Monday, 8th December 2008, in Westminster Cathedral at 5.30 p.m. We could not let pass the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the patronal title of our Province, without marking Scotus's contribution to the theology of that now solemnly defined doctrine of the Church.

The Solemn Mass was celebrated by the Rt Rev George Stack, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster (the Cardinal being absent in Rome), and our Minister Provincial, Fr Michael Copps O.F.M., gave the homily. The Cathedral Choir sang, and 25 friars in their brown habits and white stoles concelebrated the Mass.

Many friends of the friars of the Province joined the celebration in the Cathedral.

In this way was concluded the celebration of the Seventh Centenary of the death of John Duns Scotus.

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700 YEARS IN THE GRAVE AND STILL ALIVE

1308 - 8th November - 2008

: The tomb of Blessed John Duns Scotus in the church of the Conventual friars in Cologne

The 8th November 2008 marked the exact seventh centenary of the death of Blessed John Duns Soctus, one of the most outstanding and influential thinkers of medieval and indeed of all times. His subtle thought lives on today in the universally accepted formulations of Catholic doctrine. He was Franciscan through and through and may be regarded as giving theological precision to the spirituality and outlook of Saint Francis of Assisi, his master.

An Apostolic Letter was sent by Pope Benedict XVI on the 8th November 2008 to the International Congress held in Cologne marking the centenary, which you can read by clicking on the following link:
http://www.ofm.org/ofmnews/?p=2058#more-2058

On Thursday, 13th November 2008, the Annual John Duns Scotus Lecture in the Franciscan International Study Centre, Giles Lane, Canterbury, took place in an especially solemn form.

The programe comprised two main events:-

At 5.00 p.m. the Celebration of the Eucharist presided over by Br James McCurry OFM Conv, Delegate General of the Conventual friars in Britain, with Br Ed Ondrako OFM Conv preaching.

At 7 p.m. a Lecture on the subject "A Man for All Ages - John Duns Scotus 1266-1308" by Rev. Dr. Thomas Mollenbeck from Paderborn University.

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The second European Meeting of Franciscan Youth will take place in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, from the 9th to the 15th August 2009 to celebrate the Eighth Centenary of the approval of the Franciscan Rule in 1209. For full details click on the following link: http://www.santiago2009.es
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