Mary in Monmouth: Last Sunday in Lent- Spring is coming!

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

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Last Sunday in Lent- Spring is coming!

On Sundays in Lent, we do not need to fast because Sunday is always a Catholic celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord and a great celebration. Today we are having a special lunch in our house to celebrate. The days are lengthening . The crocuses are out as are the golden daffodils. The busy rhythm of the year starts again. You can smell the grass and the freshness of the trees.

This is the last full week of work before the Easter Celebration break and I am preparing a new podcast about Gwynlliw and his family. The best known saints of Newport. I am calling the podcast 'Big Bad Gwynlliw' because he was truly a great sinner-a pirate who used to keep his boat moored at Pillgwenlly (pill-water inlet,gwenlly(of Gwynlliw) and raid all the merchant ships coming up the Bristol Channel groaning with goods, and kill the merchants. The story of his conversion is interesting. Again there are problems. Anglo Saxon invaders (such as King Harold-with-the-arrow-in-his-eye of Hastings later) could not say Gwynlliw (Gwinn-thlew)and the name got corrupted to St Woolos. A monk of Gloucester (to which Benedictines Gwynlliw's church was given after the Norman Conquest)is to be congratulated for writing down the old legends concerning Gwynlliw and his family. The Saintly and very beautiful Princess Gwladys of Brecon whom he married, his famous son, St Cadoc of Caerleon after whom the parish church is dedicated and Cynydyr of Llancynydr and St Maches (Llan-vaches)who was buried at Caerwent. Again Gwynlliw and Gwladys and their children were contemporary with St Dyfrig/Dubritius.So more of that later.

Rest in Peace little Marie Luz Cortez. Once again a murdered child. So sad, a child named 'Mary Luz' -the Light of Mary.May she rest in eternal pece and may perpetual light shine upon her.

Psychics are predicting there will be a break through in the Madeleine McCann case-I certainly hope so.This has been an exhausting and long haul and you can only worry that she has been affected by her time away from her parents.Keep praying everyone.I keep feeling she is out there some where-just a gut feeling.

Yesterday there was a rally of abused people outside Haut de la Garenne Children's home. Shows you the scars never go away, and the very real existance of evil in the world.St Michael pray for us all.