THE
P RTAL
January 2019
Page 3
Fr Michael Woodgate
Will Burton meets Fr Michael Woodgate,
author of a new book on the Precious Blood
I
thought travelling from the Fens up to London four days
before Christmas would be fraught with frustration, overcrowded trains and
so on. When I caught the midday train to London, it was barely half full.
My journey was to the Church of the Most Precious
Blood, Borough, London Bridge for the launch of
a new book by Fr Michael Woodgate on Our Lord’s
Precious Blood. In a few spare minutes before the
actual launch, I was able to speak with Fr Michael, and
he graciously consented to an interview.
I asked about Westminster Cathedral being dedicated
to the Precious Blood. Fr Michael responded: “My
immediate reference to the cathedral in the book, was
to the time when Pope Benedict came. He preached
a very good sermon using the Precious Blood as a
background to his theme.
“I was thinking that there is scope for a new book
of devotions for Benediction. Looking at the Divine
Praises and comparing it to the one in my sacristy
that goes back to the 1930s, I realise that the Precious
Blood is not there. I suppose I think of the Cathedral
as dedicated to the Precious Blood. I regret the fact
that they have their feast of dedication on the old feast
of on the 1 st July. The rest of us do not get that, unless
we are dedicated to it of course.
the church today?
“I think that is
because the church
is a suffering church.
It always has been a
suffering church, and
blood is a symbol of
life, but it is also a
symbol of suffering as
any nurse or doctor
will tell you. Most of us have experienced a loss of
blood in some way or another, and suffered as a result.
I think that’s what we need to keep in mind; that the
church has been through so much suffering in its
years. Although it’s suffering now, it’s something that
will probably always be with us. But at the end of the
day Good Friday is always followed by the resurrection
and so we must not despair.”
“Incorporating the Precious Blood into Corpus
I thanked Fr Michael for his time and candour,
Christi is a shame as it does get lost. It is a devotion enjoyed the refreshments at the book launch and
that is very ancient, and it’s a devotion on its own. Of caught a near empty train home!
course, it’s closely connected to the Eucharist but it is a
devotion of its own. The Precious Blood is also a point
Forms of words for Making a Bequest
of contact with Protestant bodies like the Methodists
in favour of the Personal Ordinariate
with Wesley’s hymns and the Salvation Army and their
of Our Lady of Walsingham in your Will
motto ‘blood and fire’.”
I GIVE to the Ordinariate of Our Lady
of
Walsingham, 24 Golden Square, London
Fr Michael links the Precious Blood with that of
W1F 9JR, the sum of ______ pounds (£
) and
the martyrs. “I suppose blood is life isn’t it? The Jews
I DIRECT that the receipt of the Treasurer or other
recognise blood as life which is why they wouldn’t
proper officer of the Personal Ordinariate of Our
drink it. Our Blessed Lord gave his blood for our
Lady of Walsingham shall be good and sufficient
salvation. The martyrs have followed in those same
discharge to my Executor.
or
footsteps, not for our salvation, but they are shedding
I GIVE the residue of my estate to the
their blood for the Lord and following him as closely
Ordinariate
of
Our
Lady
of
as they possibly could, not necessarily of their own
Walsingham,
24
Golden
Square,
London
W1F
choice, but they were prepared to go along the same
9JR, and I DIRECT that the receipt of the Treasurer
road and be martyred for him.”
or other proper officer of the Personal Ordinariate
of Our Lady of Walsingham shall be good and
What about the Precious Blood and the crisis facing
sufficient discharge to my Executor.