Rogation and the essential difference

"Rogation Sunday" - yes, we still observe these things in the countryside where they are theologically important and pastorally relevant.  After the abnormally dry spring, the British weather being what it is, the blessing of crops and fields after mass took place in a steady drizzle and a rising wind. No photos unfortunately!

“The Country Parson is a Lover of old Customes... Particularly, he loves Procession, and maintains it, because there are contained therein four manifest advantages. First, a blessing of God for the fruits of the field: Secondly, justice in the Preservation of bounds : Thirdly, Charity in loving walking, and neighbourly accompanying one another, with reconciling of differences at that time, if there be any : Fourthly, Mercy in releeving the poor by a liberall distribution and largesse, which at that time is, or ought to be used’

        George Herbert

On an unrelated subject, Fr Sean Finnegan makes an interesting point at Vale Adurni. Read it all  here
It is also an explanation as to why traditional Anglo-Catholics find themselves so isolated in contemporary Anglican polity and find it so hard to engage in any meaningful way with most liberals and evangelicals (neither of whom really do either ontology or ecclesiology) on the subject of women's ordination. They simply don't - or perhaps even can't -  understand where we are coming from.

Here's a short excerpt from Fr Finnegan's post:

".....To a Catholic mind, the question is not just a moral one, but an ontological one. Priesthood and a fortiori Episcopacy are about more than just headship or leadership. This is because we believe that sacraments actually do what they say on the tin, and we ask not just 'may' or 'should' somebody do it, but 'can' they do it? To make a priest you have to do more than simply putting a vestment on and calling them a priest; a bishop is more than a pointy hat and a curly stick....."