Mary in Monmouth: In Preparation-For Information

PODCAST IMMINENT OF THE VISIT OF THE RELICS TO CARDIFF

I took recordings of the various Masses and liturgies in the Church as the relics were being received in Cardiff on Tueday and have only lightly edited them. I was doubly glad so many people, who were not able to get in and hear the service of reception and so forth will have the possibility of listening to the Masses for Priests and Vocations, Evangelisation, and personal sanctity, Angelus, Rosary , Litany and Benediction. It was extremely crowded, but I think it captures all the excitement of that day when thousands descended on Cardiff, clapped the little saint for her Christian witness and brought her candles, red roses and many other flowers, incense and beautiful music at the evening Mass.People streamed in until the Cathedral closed at Midnight, and devotions continued all evening, with people praying for conversion of sinners, confessions, praying for priests and praying that all would accept Jesus as their personal friend and Saviour. A Mediaeval style day none will forget. And Bravo to the superb organist!

DO YOU KNOW WHY BISHOPS WEAR POINTY HATS CALLED MITRES?

Truth about Relics

Relics have often been a stumbling block for people trying to understand the church. It is no different than keeping a special photo, item or clothing etc from a loved one when they have passed on. Kissing a picture or reverencing it, lighting a candle next to it or putting a poppy by it on remembrance day, just brings them alive again to you, shows them honour and respect. In the case of relics, if you can ask a living person to pray for you, then we can ask the souls who have made it to heaven to pray for us too, Having a small item which has actually touched their body or even a part of that body brings them especially close to them. The Holy Spirit has completely infused their body, So you ask this person to add their prayers to yours up above, and sometimes there are miracles as a result, although it is the prayer to Almighty God that works the miracle if there is to be one and it is his Will.

Hello! The first ten pictures

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

In Preparation-For Information

On Saturday is the big Two Rivers Festivals at Chepstow. Altough it has nothing directly to do with Catholicism, the Mari Lwyd will be making a wassailing appearance-with the horses head and everything. There is a website dedicated to the event.
Afternoon:Children's Mari Ceremony from the Welsh School in Chepstow.
Early Evening is the meeting of the English on the Chepstow Bridge, who are then invited to take part in the Mari Jollifications.
Main Mari Lwyd Ceremony is at Chepstow Castle at 8. All details on their website. You will remember this is a bit of a hybrid custom, the linking of a horses head with jaws which clank shut quite frighteningly whilst going around peoples doors at Christmastide requesting money in song, and challenging house owners to sing back. One of my podcast dealt with the origins, the Mediaeval Mass and celebration of Mary at Christmas (Mari Lwyd, (Grey Mary) actually meaning 'Venerable Mary'in that sense. This custom was stopped when the Tudors founded their own church. So the people went around singing special carols, but using a horses head, harkening back to earlier customs, celebrating Rhiannon the horse goddess who carried the souls of the dead into the next world. When the Saxons came they also added the Wassailing tradition, so the pagan custom is also celebrated here as bits of toast soaked in cider are hung on an apple tree for a good harvest and cider poured onto apple tree roots as an 'offering' for a good harvest! Waste of good cider!! This Saturday 19th Jan. New Podcast andpost coming soon about Pater Ishow of Nant Mair in the Golden Valley!