PILGRIMAGE TO THE GRAVE OF SAINT DAVID LEWIS AT USK AUGUST 2009

29th August was the Pilgrimage at St Francis Xavier and St David Lewis Church in Usk

A large number of religious and lay people came. It was a very joyful occasion.The Mass was followed by a walk to the site of the Hanging over the road from the church. After reading the last speech of Fr Lewis, we walked along the streets of Usk to the Priory Church where St David was buried.There we said the Lord's Prayer, a decade of the Rosary and sang the Salve Regina, which sounded wonderful unaccompanied in the still air. Afterwards people venerated the tomb and went in to the Priory to light candles and also tea and cake in the vicarage afterwards.

I think the last speech of Fr David from the scaffold was very moving, about being roud to die for being a Christian. Two protestants had clung onto his hands to make sucre he was dead and could not be given the agony of being drawn and quartered. I shall speak more of this later when I come to penal times, but this is a 'special' of the official pilgrimage day.

It was wonderful to be around his grave in the churchyard, singing the 'SALVE REGINA'. So beautiful!

St Michael a most Wonderful Protector against the Old Deceiver,pretending to be an angel of Light

St Michael (Mihangel in Welsh) has been a big protector of the Christians in Monmouthshire and he is especially revered around Abergavenny and the SKIRRYD Mountain, called in English 'St Michaels Mount'on which a chapel dedicated to the holy Archangel was built in Mediaeval times now lies a ruin.But people from the town go up there on Good Friday and also at Michaelmas Day (or nearest Saturday to it) to pray and ask the Archangel to stand with us and defend the law of God and of His Christ.St David , in his mountain retreat saw it before going to Llendewi Brefi to defend the Church's teaching.

The story about the Skirryd is that on the death of earthly Christ on the cross at the crucifixion, the veil of the Temple was torn in half and a great darkness came over the earth. Symbolically I think this means that the curtain, separating God from his people in the Temple had been opened up, and Our Lord Jesus opened up heaven to us. What a wonderful and amazing Grace. At the same time, the story goes that the sword of the archangel was raised and brought down on the mountain, splitting it in half. Indeed it is so holy, that farmers used to take huge sackfuls of earth from the cleft to put on their fields, if the harvest was ailing.


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Numerous churches in Wales are dedicated to St Michael, and the Skirryd is 'guarded ' by five Churches . St Teilo himself implored his protection from the top of the mountain and the invading Saxons were quelled for a time. Then in recusant times, when the Old Faith had been banned by the various later Tudor Kings and Queens, they crept up to say the rosary and to hear the Masses held by the brave priests. These were sons of local people trained abroad because of the ban on pain of death here. There used to be a picture in Llanfihangel Court (ironically the Court of the church of St Michael) showing a trail of Faithful on there way. There were other places where people met, which I shall discuss later, bt the Catholic Faith never died out in this region of Monmouthshire, in spiteof the dreadful punishments for following the Faith.

Pope Leo had a vision of the world and composed the Prayer to Michael Archangel. This character figures stongly in the Narnia film the 'Lin the Witch and the Warderobe'. Peter stands there for the human race and the Church, with his saints, Edmund of England, Susan of Rome and Lucy of Rome (all early martyrs) with others gathered together from all over Narnia (the world) they stand with the spirits and angels against the black Queen and her demons, who did not know the 'Old Magic' that Aslan would rise again and come to vanquish her and all the powers of evil. All Aslan's people are restored to life and there is a great scene in the film, when those who are 'frozen' (inactive) are breathed on (with the Holy Spirit)and regain their life, to fight on Aslan's side. They know his power is absolute. In the recent film, the Archangel Michael is depicted as a Centaur, half man and half horse, and a terrifying prospect.He and Peter (and the Church)lead the defence. Death is nothing because of resurrection and suddenly Aslan (Trinity representation) appears and kills the evil dragon, the Archangel Michael figure being very prevalent in this battle.

Someone has very imaginatively composed a movie about St Michael using the music from the film and interpreting it. Pictures of St Michael are overlaid with Pope Leo's Prayer for protection, from all the evils that beset the world today, when God is mocked and reviled and secularists attacking goodness and truth from every side.The film might alarm people unused to the imagery in the book of Revelations, so if you are very sensitive, don't view the film. It is very powerful and dramatic and fitting for this great spirit.

When the chips are down-Who is on the Lord's side? No-one can straddle the line....

St Therese and Bishop Hedley of Newport writes about a rare book...

The Reliquary of St Therese, Archbishop Peter, Archbishop Peter, Bishop Tom and Bishop Edwin of Wrexham receiving the Reliquary into the Cathedral.






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If you would like a full report on the first day of the pilgrimage to see the relics of St Therese in Cardiff, please scroll down to Tuedays report on the whole day-complete with pictures. I have posted some more from the Church;s website under the commons license.

Rare Book

A couple of weeks ago I published in three parts the first chapter of Mr Hirsch Davies’ book on Welsh Catholicism in Mediaeval times. Contrary to the popular view, the Church was thriving in Wales as everywhere else. People were devout and ardent in their devotions and the great monasteries of Valle Crucis, Strata Florida, Llantarnam, Tintern, Grace Dieu, Margam , Neath and Basingwork ar their height, and it is here that many of the stories of the bards were written down in the famous ‘books’ of Camarthen and in many places. The new Cistercian order lived in little distant places, identified themselves with the native population and became centres of Welsh nationalism in the creeping Saxon domination of Wales. However, Mr Hirsch Davies in 1804, being a Welsh speaker, draws much of this together. Because this book is out of print, and few like it have been written, I hope everyone who is interested in Welsh Catholic history may cut and paste it into a word document and make and bind their own copy before it is forgotten in the back of some ecclesiastical library, and to remind our Catholic children of the true history of their ‘hen fydd’-the old faith.

Introduction to ‘Catholicism in Mediaeval Wales’ by Edward E Hirsch Davies

This book is a reproduction , much enlarged, of a paper read by the author at the National Catholic Congress held at Cardiff in July 1914.

There is probably no living Catholic or non Catholic who could treat of the Catholicism in Mediaeval Wales with the knowledge and sureness of Mr de Hirsch Davies. When he was received into the church two or three years ago, he was a well known Anglican clergyman of North Wales, and had already published a history of the Church in Wales, which, though written from an Anglican point of view, is marked by a fair and candid spirit, and bears the impress of the hands of an expert. A student ,possessing the Welsh language perfectly, and thoroughly at home in the vernacular records, he was just the man who might be expected to give an authentic and illuminating account of a period of Welsh history which has received very scanty justice, even from catholic writers.

The 'Celtic Church' in Wales (Romanised Celts) was in complete communion with the Universal Catholic Church, and not allied to some sort of non-conformism.

Howel Dda

His first chapter is devoted to a brief but telling picture of Catholicism of the early church of Wales , up to the Norman interruption. There are few Non Catholic writers in these days who venture to deny that the early Celtic church was united to the rest of Christendom in allegiance to the See of Peter. The remarkable assertion of Mr Willis Bund, that early Celtic Christianity resembled nothing so much as modern non-conformity, like similar pronouncements to the Christianity of St Patrick, has become out of date after the labours of Professor Bury, Professor Lloyd of Bangor and others. Mr de Hirsch Davies here accumulates historical testimony showing that, although no Welsh manuscript now exists that is older than the twelfth century, yet the records of the ‘Age of the Saints’ the words of Gildas, and the texts of numerous collections of documents that are evidently far more ancient than the date on which they were collected, prove to demonstrate that from the earliest period, the Church in Celtic form celebrated the Mass, used the Sacraments, believed in the Real Presence, honoured the Blessed Virgin and was in Communion with the Papal See’.
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Mr de Hirsch Davies spoke and wrote and understood Welsh and understood Bardic Tradition

But it is with the Catholicism of Wales in the Middle Ages that the present useful volume is chiefly concerned. Catholic Wales of the Mediaeval period is much less generally known than Welsh Christianity of the centuries from AD 400 to say 700. Mr de Hirsch Davies begins his researches with the Laws of Hywel Dda (The Good) who flourished about the time of St Dunstan, and died around 907AD. The six centuries of religious history that elapsed between that date and the ‘Reformation’ have never received adequate attention either from Catholics or non-Catholics. One principal reason of this, is that our historians have not been able to read Welsh-and the religious records of Mediaeval Wales are almost exclusively in Welsh.

They consist chiefly of two classes of writings-chronicles and poems; the former compiled for the most part in the great monasteries, and the latter produced by the Bards at the courts of the Welsh princes. It is only very recently (sic.1915) that these sources of religious history have begun to be scientifically reproduced and used. This is more emphatically true in the poetry of the Bards. Bardism, as I need not say, was an institution peculiar to Wales. Every Prince or chieftain had his Bard or Bards, whose duty it was to compose verses on present and past events and chant them to the accompaniments of the harp at banquets and festivals. These bards did not always live in friendship with the Church.

The Llanover Connection

We often hear of them being denounced by Friars for evil life and unseemly language. But on the whole, they reflected the current life of the country, and their poetry presents a vivid picture of settled and dominant Catholicism. As an illustration of the way in which light is thrown on the religion of the Welsh people by the Bardic poems, I may point to the collection published in 1910 by the Reverend Hopkin James, which he calls Hen Gwndidau-being Sermons in Song.We find in these compositions-the originals of which are chiefly at Llanover (near Abergavenny in Monmouthshire)-all the variety of feeling that existed in Wales in the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Queen Mary and Elizabeth; lamentations for the changes that are taking place, regrets for the Mass, the Confessional and the old church services, and at the same time a not of bitter discontent, and of welcome to the novelties of te so-called reformers. Materials like this exist in greater or less abundance for the whole of the Middle Ages and Mr de Hirsch Davies has not failed to make use of them.

Undervaluing of Welsh Catholicism in Mediaeval Times by the English

There can be no doubt that English churchmen in the Mediaeval period undervalued and slighted the Catholicism of Wales. No one, who is acquainted with the writings of Giraldus Cambrensis (Gerald the Welshman-Archdeacon of Menevia) or again with the ‘Injunctions’ of Archbishop Peckham, can fail to see that, by the English, the Welsh were looked upon as semi barbarous and badly instructed. No doubt in Wales, as in all sparsely populated countries, there were many districts where priests and sacraments were rare and the Word of God seldom heard. Moreover the Normans occupied too many of the Episcopal Sees and parishes, and were not too exemplary in pastoral work among the native inhabitants. But in spite of these drawbacks , it is now seen to be absolutely true that Catholicim in Wales , from the days of Hywel Dda to the reign of Henry VIII and even later, was as deeply and fervently Catholic as any other part of Christendom.

The Great Cistercian Abbeys

Wales had few considerable towns; but what we know of Cardiff, for instance or Newport, or Haverfordwest, or Pembroke, or Kidwelly or the buried city of Kenfig-to confine ourselves to South Wales-demonstrates a normal and fervent Catholic life. Numerous great abbeys, like Neath, Margam and Strata Florida, were shrines of veneration for Kings and nobles and upheld Catholic learning and the majesty of the liturgy. Dominican and Franciscan Friars travelled over the whole country and penetrated everywhere, and the people learnt their prayers, followed the Mass, listened to sermons, prayed to Mary for intercession,went on pilgrimages and died in Christian fashion, as did their fellow Catholics across the Wye and Severn. All this Mr de Hirsch Davies brings out with learning and fullness ; the contents of this book will be , to some extent, new to all his readers. Those who remember his brilliant paper at the National Congress at Cardiff in June of last year (1914) will welcome this enlargement as a permanent memorial of the Congress, and, we may hope, will renew their interest in the work of the conversion of Wales.

+ JOHN CUTHBERT HEDLEY O.S.B
Second Bishop of Newport (1880-1895)
September 1915

Back NEXT WEEK FOR POST ABOUT THE RECENT PILGRIMAGE TO ST DAVID LEWIS AND AN UPDATE ON TINTERN VESPERS THIS YEAR FOLLOWED BY AN EXAMINATION OF THE AUGUSTINES IN GWENT.

St Therese of Lisieux in Cardiff 22nd September

These pictures are all taken inside the St David's Metropolitan Cathedral in the centre of Cardiff on September 22nd 2009. The photographs show what happened inside the Cathedral only. Unfortunately thousands more turned up from all over Wales and many ended up not being able to get into the cathedral for the liturgy which was a source of sadness, although all who wanted to came to venerate the reliquary which housed the little saint's bones.
Below you can see all the people who came from Wales, religious from everywhere, including the Carmelite sisters from Dolgellau,Cistercians from Caldey Island, Franciscans, Sisters of Joseph of Annecy from Cwmbran, Newport and Cardiff, Carmelites from West Wales and Mother Theresa's 'Sisters of Charity' from Cardiff who are working with the poor. All three bishops, including our own Archbishop Peter were in evidence, and there were many interesting and inspiring insights into the life of the Saint.
Below there are also some pictures of the Cathedral itself, a small oak carving of St David of Wales, who defended the Church's teaching against Pelagius (Morgan) at Llandewi Brevi and was canonised for it in 1138 by Pope Callixtus II.I wonder what he thought of the magnificent crowds!
During the day the age range was older, supplemented by many mothers with babes-in-arms and younger people unwaged. There were also a large number of children. By the end of the evening mass, many many younger people had joined the fray and I mean literally, since several thousand more people turned up than there was room for in such a small cathedral. In fact many workers leaving offices had got in for the evening Mass and turned up bearing bouquets or bunches of red roses to leave with St Theresa. The Third Order Carmelites were looking after the long queue.
Below, you can also see the representation of the statue held at Penrhys, a most beautiful one, traditionally carved out of oak. It had been dragged off to London and burned in Thomas Cromwell's back yard!This too is very beautiful, although I think the original may have been more brightly coloured....
There is also a marble pieta, after the one in the Lateran basilica. See below my report of my day....


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Our Lady of Penrhys in St Joseph's Chapel

























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Arrival

Since I am not currently living in Wales, although just over the border, I left very early intending to drive to Cwmbran and get a train. This was not possible as there were no parking places at Cwmbran station, so I drove over the mountain road and into Cardiff itself. My many years at Welsh National Opera meant I have a working knowledge of the road system and I got into my usual car park in Greyfriars.

I realised it would cost me £12 to park there all day, but considering a train fare and taxi fares etc-not too bad really, and only a short walk up to the Cathedral. When I arrived I went into the gift shop first, realising it would be swamped later and got a few small candles and also some small prayer books, as my sister, an Anglican is very interested in St Therese and there are several excellent small prayer books and cards.Then, entering the church, I lit some candles for my family. I especially prayed for my grandfather, William Earnest, because he had malaria in the first world war and there had been an enormous change in his personality which was a big trial for my grandmother. He was a Catholic but in a fit of rage refused extreme unction at the end of his life, often being prey to these fits.I prayed for my other dead grandparents, my father and my husband and son. I also resolved to give my plenary indulgence to my grandfather, who himself had suffered a lot in the war, and hope that he is now with the Father. Gradually, the cathedral filled up with people and there was not a seat to be had for the first Mass.

The Theme of the Pilgrimage was threefold and the first was Vocations in the Year of the Priest.So the first Mass was for vocations and two big boards proclaiming this were placed rather close to the altar obscuring the view of the Sanctuary, which I found really irritating suring the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, as it was important to see it from any angle. The Mass began with the hymn 'Come Holy Spirit'-Veni sancte Spiritus' sung by all in plainchant. Several priests spoke about this. The sermon emphasised that like St Therese who was 'surrounded by love', and that love was at the heart of the Church, that the priest was also love at the heart of the church. Another Priest from Usk then, as Director for vocations, young and strongly spoken , also spoke inspiringly and powerfully about love being the heart of the church and even more powerful than faith and hope, and lastly another priest from West Wales spoke softly about all the duties a priest has to fulfil, how essential the priest is in the life of the church, and that young people will only be able to combat outside cultural relativist forces if we witness our faith in love, but also in explanation of whythe church has certain teachings. Also we should challenge suitable young men, showing the quality of love and care , to ask them to consider being a priest.




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Arrival of the Relics

Around 3.15 in the Cathedral (there had been an hour's Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament' as the MC had to remind people constantly as there was so much excitement at the expectation of the relics and many people had come together with people from former parishes or different parts of Wales and had begun to talk in Church. Thankfully the offending boards were taken away, but I could only see the Blessed Sacrament by twizzling my head around those boards! The cathedral filled up with people pouring in and filling all the side chapels. Men women, little children and the excitement was huge, but thousands remained outside and were unable to get in. The seating capacity was far too small, and I did wonder whether the Anglican authorities might have loaned us Llandaff for the visit. (So upsetting to pay for your coach, arrive and be kept out in the light rain. )

Finally inside the cathedral, we heard the sound of clapping and cheering and a procession began to form. The Knights of St Gregory appeared at the door and were carrying the flags of Normandy and Wales, the papal flag and another flag I did not recognise. For the first time the huge and powerful organ droned forth in a magnificent fanfare. He was a fantastic organist! The flags started to moe down the central aisle of the church and stood behind the eight votive stands, all filled with candles with incense wafting down the church. Behind were members of all the religious orders in Wales and Third Order Carmelites, the bearers of the reliquary, all wearing black suits who placed it on the plinth at the front. Seats had been saved for them. Then as the Bishops followed it, led by Archbishop Peter, the rite of receiving the relic of the magnificent saint into Cardiff was begun with the hymn 'For all the saints who from their labour's rest'. During the coffin's being brought down the aisle there was a prolonged period of clapping to welcome 'the Little Flower'and congratulate her for her inspiring life, lived all at her home and in her Carmel and dying at such a young age, utterly devoted to the way of holiness in the 'little things'. A link could have been made here to our own holy saint David, who preached to all-'Always the little things, remember the little things',making people special who have been sidelined by respecting their creation in God, a special cup of tea for that difficult person, excercising patience with difficult people.....etc.

There followed an address by Bishop Edwin about St Therese by firstly Bishop Edwin of North Wales, a lovely warm , approachable bishop with a great sense of humour who began by saying, 'I have been asked to preach in Welsh for the first part, but for those who do not speak the language of heaven....'the pause allowed laughter from the congregation, 'I will say it again in English'. It was charming. He mentioned the letter of St Paul, where Paul had talked about the Church being the limbs and 'body' of Christ. Therese had said, she wanted tobe its heart, and in her short life in her Carmel (Convent of Carmelites) she prayed unceasingly for priests, vocations and for Love in the church, she had assimilated from her own happy home, and probably the reason why Pope Benedict may also beatify her parents. She is the patron saint of missions and evangelisation and her 'Little Way Association' raises money for third world countries, for life giving essentials and formation of priests.

The Bishop of Menevia spoke on similar themes as did Archbishop Peter, reminding everyone that we are all priestsand we all have the duty of evangelisation put upon us.We all have to proclaim the gospel, however unpopular we may be.He spoke warmly and fervently for the need for Christ in a broken world. The Choir of St David's , before the Mass had entered. A mixture of boys and girls sang-and had led the Benediction with 'O Salutaris Hostia' and 'Tantum Ergo' in the plainchant. I was so relieved that the music was in a traditional setting.

Following on from the welcome , all three bishops came down and in a line venerated the reliquary of St Therese (encased in a perspex box)Then followed all the priests, the Cistercians of Caldey Island, the Carmelites from Dolgellau (who had a lot of young nuns) and since everyone was focused on the veneration, I made my way to the Confessional as I had missed the boat earlier as hundreds lined up for confession. This was a profoundly healing experience, but as I attempted to get into the line for veneration a very angry woman who had not been able to get in started accusing me of coming down from the gallery and pushing in! She wouldn't listen to the truth, but I just waited, then a priest who had seen what was going on intervened and invited me to come in. I think she had been causing trouble elsewhere, but had I not gone to confession, I would have been at the front of the queue, and it did not really matter anyway and I had just waited.Still I was glad to finally get there.

The Reliquary

At the side of the Reliquary were all the votive stands shimmering with candles, the huge painting of the Saint sent by the Carmel at Lisieux to accompany it. It was so beautiful to see this and , I felt a reflection of the beauty and sanctity of the life of St Therese, because along with the themes of Evangelisation, and Vocation there was also the third theme, the sanctification of the Christian life, by souls as St Therese said , 'throwing themselves into the arms of Jesus' when confronted by the tempation of serious unChristian behaviour. The reception readings 'Unless you become like a little Child, you cannot enter the Kingdom' relected the life of the little saint completely. Perhaps actually a child, but warm, loving giving and totally dedicated to God's Will and in her book 'Story of a Soul' in which she simply sets out her faith in 'Little Things'(exacly echoing St David's creed) is a bestseller and she is one of only three women named as a 'Doctor' of our church-one who sets out the faith clearly.

My Confessor had asked me to pray for him at the Reliquary and for all priests.He had been gentle and reassuring and asked me to pray the 'Angelus' for my penance.So I had a lot to do. The reliquary in its glass case was very beautiful and ornate box of traditional design, gilded and painted with many colours.It lay in a sea of red roses and other flowers the pilgrims had brought to honour this little saint, and looking up and seeing the statue of St David looking down, was very moving. Third order Carmelites were on each side of the glass case and I walked forward aware of candles and flowers all around, along with the smell of the incense. I decided not to kiss the box, but to lay my hand upon it, pray for the priest and say 'Thank you' before moving off to pray-I realised so many people were waiting.I then prayed for all the Pope's intentions and offered my plenary indulgence for my grandfather and curiously as I did this, it was like someone else spoke to me and said 'Thank you Evi'. So as it was a plenary indulgence hopefully my grandfather will have his glory. I have heard malaria can do terrible things to the mind.

Finally the crowds were joined by bank and office workers, young people working in the city, arriving with umbrellas and briefcases and more red roses. I think the Archbishop and other bishops were overwhelmed, also by Anglicans who had come and simply people from the street who had come in to see what was there and were overawed by the sight of hundreds of candles, the picture and the sea of red roses with the little casket in the centre. There followed a Meditation and the Litany of the Saints, whilst the veneration went on. The huge crowds now swollen with the city workers had meant the timetable was not infallible either. Finally the choir filed back in and a wonderful Mass for Evangelisation happened. I was only sorry the 'Gloria in excelsis' was not joyous enough but sung to a strange chant. Luckily the music was given.

The psalm was beautifully sung and also the 'alleluia'by a small child in the choir. The highlights were from the choir 'Os Justi' by Bruckner( The mouth of the righteous offers wisdom and his tongue speaks what is just. The Law of his God is in his heart ;and his feet do not falter) and the setting of the 'Agnus Dei'(Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us) from Schubert's Mass in G as well as the lovely setting by Durufle of the Maundy Thursday motet 'Ubi caritas' (Where there is charity and love,there is God, the love of Christ has gathered us into one flock. Let us rejoice and be joyful in Him.Let us love and fear the living God, and froma sincere heart let us love one another)The singing of the choir was so lovely-I nearly bubbled!The senses were so overpowered by the smells of candles, roses and other flowers and incense and now the singing of angels! The Choirmaster was in control all the time and had obviously worked very hard to get music of this standard. The hymns were

Firmly I believe and truly (from The Dream of Gerontius by Cardinal Newman(1801-90)
Readings: Isaiah 2 verses 1-5 (given in Welsh)
Psalm 97: from a chant by Bairstow The Lord has shown his Salvation to the Nations
Gospel: John Chapter 17:11-23 and then the soul searching and warm homily given by Archbishop Peter

Communion Hymn was :Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all Joy, whose trust, ever child-like, no cares could destroy....'

The Ordinary of the Mass was Cunctipotens genitor Deusand more difficult than the 'Sarum' music in the earlier mass, but since not everyone was singing, it was sung well with a beautiful tenor voice and good to have a rest from singing and just hear beauty!

Recessional: My God accept my heart this day, and make it always Thine
That I from Thee no more may stray, No more from Thee decline'This was sung to a traditional Welsh tune.

Following the withdrawal of the bishops and clergy, 5 priests set up stations for confession in the chancel and also in the three standard confessionals and huge queues appeared to venerate the little saint and also for confessions. The evening crowd were young fathers and mothers, office workers and bank clerks and people dressed in their Asda, Tesco and other clothes, all come to venerate the little flower, St Therese of the Child Jesus.

on 27th September there is Solomn Mass in the Cathedral and the Mass in G by Franz Schubert will be sung and the motet 'Ave Maria' by Bruckner sung-which is glorious. Both wonderful composers of the Church.Found out the other day that Mozart also had a papal honour and called 'Kavaliere'.

A huge number of the Welsh were there from Angelesey(Mon) to Monmouthshire(Mynwy) and Herefordshire (south of which was historically in Wales)and I even spotted Fr Salvatore from Holywell in Flint there, and many people in the Cathedral were speaking in Welsh. There was colour, excitement and real happiness there and a great coming together of the Faithful so a tremendous occasion. Just sad that a bigger venue could not have been found for this unforgettable day, the nearness to God, the inclusion of all our families, seeing the aged and sick lifted to venerate the little saint and generally the good humouredness of most people, in spite of the disappointment of not getting in for the reception of the relics.For me the most beautiful was my absolution and gaining the plenary indulgence for my grandad.

As I left the church, another queue was forming and the prayers going on non stop for the conversion of Wales and more good evangelising priests, infused with love going out into an broken world where there is so much suffering and turning away from love. 'If ye love me, keep my Commandments'.