Oxford Oratory

The Oxford Oratory Church of St Aloysius Gonzaga is a bit of a mouthful, and is generally shortened to the 'Oxford Oratory'. Built in the 1870s to house Jesuits and provide a grand base from which Romanism might again flourish at Oxford, its gothic design and soaring height make a bold statement of confidence. Although the name Oxford is indelibly linked to an Anglican movement, the aim of which was to make the Church of England more ‘Catholic’ in its tone and theology, the Oratory responds by saying "But we are the real thing!”. There is even an invitation to offer ‘devotions’ to ‘Our Lady of Oxford’ on certain days. The Oratory’s website explains:

That we can address Mary as Our Lady of Oxford, reminds us that although the Virgin’s care and intercession is universal, she is also able to care for each one of us individually. To have her image set up in a particular place shows that she is not remote or unapproachable, but rather our Mother, whose love for each of us is intimate and personal.

Yes, this is real Romanism, not of that Anglo-lite down the road. The Biblical Mary plays no such part, of course, and the Biblical Jesus would not suffer some other human to mediate on His behalf. He alone can bring us to God; He is not some foolish teenager or hapless singleton overly dependent on His mother to get through life. Rome’s buildings are beautiful, but her theology obnoxious. I should rather meet in a tin tab and hear the pure gospel of free grace than a soaring oratory and direct praise to the wrong person.

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5

A D