Happy Birthday to Our Blessed Lady

Torch of The Faith News on Monday 08 September 2008 - 20:39:48 | by admin

After Mass we had lunch with Fr. Mike in the pleasant surroundings of the Cathedral Plaza Shop. Here he is tucking into his celebratory Feast Day chilli!

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Bring flowers of the rarest...

Torch of The Faith News on Monday 08 September 2008 - 20:33:43 | by admin

Back in the 'domestic church' of our home in Wales, we had a miniature procession with a fresh bouquet of flowers to present to Our Lady for her birthday, whilst singing As I kneel before you. (Those who attended our wedding may remember that we also then processed to present a bouquet at the Lady altar accompanied by the same song).

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St Pio Day of Prayer in Wales

Torch of The Faith News on Sunday 07 September 2008 - 17:59:08 | by admin

God bless those Franciscan friars at Pantasaph who've just pulled together another wonderful St. Pio Day of Prayer!

The prayers began in the outdoor shrine, where Fr. Keith Windsor led us in the Mysteries of Light at the foot of the new statue of Our Lady of Fatima.

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Gathered in prayer

Torch of The Faith News on Sunday 07 September 2008 - 17:54:26 | by admin

Plenty of pilgrims had come from places as diverse as North Wales, Liverpool, Lancashire and even Nottingham.

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Holy Mass and Relic Service

Torch of The Faith News on Sunday 07 September 2008 - 17:50:19 | by admin

The beautiful friary church of St. David was full for the midday Mass at which Fr. Louis Maggiore preached powerfully on the necessity for, and benefits of, individual Confession due to Our Lord's commissioning His priests with the Power of the Keys to bind and to loose sins. He also called on us to get involved in going out and bringing in the lost and lonely; because this is our role in light of the virtue of our Christian Baptism.

After Holy Mass, Fr. Louis invited everyone who wished to pay individual devotion to St. Pio by honouring a relic of his garments to come forwards. Above, Angeline is in the process of doing so. 

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Visit from Alice and Frank Jones

Torch of The Faith News on Sunday 07 September 2008 - 17:42:08 | by admin

After lunch in the pilgrim's hall, we all watched a moving video of Alice Jones from Haydock, an Anglican lady who was healed by St. Pio many years ago and whose case was actually used by the Vatican commission for the Beatification of the, then, Padre Pio. 

It was lovely when the video ended, the lights came back on, and Alice and her husband Frank stood up to answer questions and share a little more of their testimony!

Before heading back over to the Church for a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration, Confessions and prayers for healing, Fr. Keith reminded us all that 'we are in the business of truth'; that 'the world is heading the wrong way fast' and that it is 'our job to go out and bring it back!'

These prayer days are Grace filled. The next one is on Sunday 21st September, beginning at 10.30am in the pilgrim's hall. You've just been invited. Pray about it and come! 

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Come Holy Spirit

Torch of The Faith News on Sunday 07 September 2008 - 01:35:48 | by admin

We were north of Liverpool today for the First Saturday at Holy Spirit over in Ford, during which Fr. John Harris preached touchingly about the Birthday of Our Lady; which feast will be celebrated on Monday. He explained that, in light of Jesus giving Her to us all as our mother through the Apostle John, she is thus mother to each of us as individuals and as a community. He invited us to celebrate Her feast days with the love and devotion that we would for our earthly mother. Fr. recommended the highest prayer possible on earth; the Holy Mass as a suitable gift to Her. For those who cannot make that, he suggested they perform acts of kindness and prayer whilst saying to Her; This is for you Blessed Mother. Fr. also spoke touchingly of the great pro-life activist Fr. Cyril Thomas, who died not so long ago. Fr. Cyril used to have such a relationship with Our Lady, that he called her, simply Mother. Fr. Harris invited us to approach the Blessed Mother with all the simplicity and love with which one approaches one's earthly mum. At the Consecration at Holy Mass, the silence and atmosphere were charged with the Presence of God amongst us. Thanks be to God for the Holy Catholic Faith. If you know anyone who is lapsed call them home so they may come alive again in the love of the Lord. There really is nowhere else to be this side of the grave... or t'uther!!!

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His Banner over us is Love!

Torch of The Faith News on Sunday 07 September 2008 - 01:21:32 | by admin

During the afternoon we were refreshed with love and good food at the Bootle home of our good friends Margaret, Phil, and Phil Jnr. Whilst there, we accepted this rainbow over their garden as a sign of God's loving covenant!
Genesis 9:13 - I set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.

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Merry Olde England!

Torch of The Faith News on Sunday 07 September 2008 - 01:16:05 | by admin

We also managed to whizz across to St. Mary's Parish in Little Crosby. This is a key location in the defence and handing on of the Catholic Faith in British culture as the local Blundell family were recusants who maintained the Faith throughout the persecutions of the English Reformation. As such, Little Crosby is thought to be the oldest extant Catholic village in England.
This then is the Catholic Parish Church of St. Mary's which was completed by AW Pugin in 1847. Sadly, the Church was locked today which prevented us from praying and admiring the beautiful interior. However, the parish has a web site under development which features the fine ceiling and the historical mural in the side chapel. We prayed across the street and asked for the intercession of the English martyrs for the reconversion of Great Britain back to God and His One True Church.  

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The Well Cross

Torch of The Faith News on Sunday 07 September 2008 - 01:05:35 | by admin

This old cross is thought to mark the site of an old holy well. A couple of miles away in the town of Great Crosby another possible well location is marked by a simple wooden cross; which today finds itself in the midst of the hustle of shops, banks and cars! 

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